05.31.08

Lobotomy

Frame from the 1959 film of “Suddenly, Last Summer”

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Saturday, May 31, 2008

Puzzle by Robert H. Wolfe, edited by Will Shortz

In Tennessee Williams's 1958 play, Suddenly, Last Summer, the protagonist is threatened with a lobotomy to stop her from telling the truth about her cousin Sebastian. The surgeon said, "I can't guarantee that a lobotomy would stop her—babbling!!!" To which her aunt responded, "That may be, maybe not, but after the operation who would believe her, Doctor?"

Four corner sets of three nine-to-ten-letter entries are the main feature of this pleasant, but characterless crossword:

Upper left, across: FATASAHOG (1. Porky); IDONTCARE (15A. “Whatever”); NUNNERIES (17A. Where habits are picked up?).

Upper right, down: SAILNEEDLE (12D. Tool for sewing canvas); NRADIATION (13. Certain atomic X-ray emission); SECONDHAND (14. Tick source).

Lower left, down: POSTMOSAIC (25. After the Pentateuchal period); INTHEAISLE (26. Between seating sections); THIRDFLOOR (27. Attic, often).

Lower right, across: PLAUSIBLE (56. Not too much of a stretch); BAWLEDOUT (59. Read the riot act); SOITSEEMS (61. “Sure looks that way”).

Two more ten-letter entries, GOINGAHEAD (29A. Proceeding); and MEDDLESOME (41A. Curious to a fault) head the remaining entries of this curiously conversational puzzle, along with two eight letter entries, EYETEETH (34A. Exchange for something very valuable) and THREETON (38A. Like some adult hippos).

I won’t babble on as I’ve nothing much to say about this one… perhaps it’s the lobotomy!

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

05.30.08

Rigmarole

Illustration from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript of Loki, a villainous Norse deity with the ability to transmogrify.

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Friday, May 30, 2008

Puzzle by Nathan Last, edited by Will Shortz

RIGMAROLE (1A. Elaborate procedure) leads off this crossword as the first entry and amusingly finishes with IAMSODEAD (60A. “My parents are gonna kill me!”) -- in between we are treated to such fun fare as BEESKNEES (16A. Living end); CANITRYSOME (21D. Question while eying someone else’s plate); TAKETHERAP (25D. Be a whipping boy); FLYSOLO (39D. Eschew aid) which no one in this heavily populated puzzle will do, for there is plenty of company.

LOKI (34A. Shape-shifting giant of myth) headlines this puzzle's large cast of characters which include a JERK (10A. Creep); ASTA (38A. Four-legged film star of the ‘30s); an ORYX (46A. Animal some believe to be the source of the unicorn myth) AMONG (17A. In with) homo sapiens READE (19A. “The Wandering Heir” novelist, 1872); COEN (21A. “The Big Lebowski” director); STYNE (35A. “Just in Time” composer); ERROL (54A. “The Fog of War” director Morris); CHICOMARX (55A. Old comedian known for his unique piano-playing style); ILER (2D. He played on of TV’s Sopranos); ACKROYD (5D. Peter who wrote “The Last Testament of Oscar Wilde”); EDSEL (9D. Old bomb); JIMIHENDRIX (10D. Follower of Sha Na Na at Woodstock); SHEA (50D. Jets used to be seen there); SADE (35D. She had a 1993 hit with “No Ordinary Love”); RICCI (45D. Golden Globe-nominated actress for “The Opposite of Sex,” 1998); RANEES (6D. Eastern Royals); OCEANAUTS (7D. Sealab inhabitants); and a PIXIE (15A. Playful trickster).

A few more links: OLEICACID (14A. Soapmaking compound); OBELISK (42A. Luxor Temple sight); EXONERATES (11D. Clears); ANABOLISM; RINK (12D. Flames shoot in it); 31. Orsk is on it; 49. Keys; 47. Leaves home?.

Did I forget CESTLAVIE (58A. “Oh well”)!

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

05.29.08

Across & Down

Drawing Hands -- M.C. Escher

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Thursday, May 29, 2008

Puzzle by John Farmer, edited by Will Shortz

This is one of those crosswords that requires far more words to explain than are involved. In this case, we are dealing with a mere five squares.

Five squares in this very clever crossword contain ACROSS/DOWN. I'll just use a blank square () to indicate both words in this commentary. However, when looking at the across clues, read the square as ACROSS and for the down clues, read it as DOWN. The five pairs of words are as follows:

ONE(1A. First clue) and BEAT (4D. Jazz/blues monthly);

GOHILL (13D. Hit the skids) and STRETCHES (18A. Spans, as a river);

GETPAT (26D. Master) and MOVETOWN (35A. Relocate from one side to the other);

LOOKON (39D. Scorn) and THESTREET (58A. Facing one’s house from a short distance away, say);

UPSIDE (45D. Inverted) and CUT (68A. Transect).

The rest of the puzzle is fairly straight-forward, with two eleven-letter across entries, ARSENIOHALL (29A. “Coming to America” co-star), I entered Eddie Murphy first, and ONEMANBANDS (46A. Versatile performers), a good example is Professor Gizmo one-man-band Tiger Rag.

Entries of interest with links -- NARTHEX (2D. Church vestibule), INVITRO (40D. Like some fertility lab techniques), LEATHER (41D. Hide in a closet?), CARIBOU (43D. Game in the Arctic), BRETON (8D. Celt of NW France), AGORA, PIANO, ARNO, LILO, NEWT, MAI and TAI.

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

05.28.08

BALLS

Spheres by Andres Reinot
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Puzzle by C. W. Stewart, edited by Will Shortz

BALLS (38A. Word that can follow the starts of 17-, 21-, 58- and 64-Across and 3- and 40-Down) heads the inter-related entries of today’s crossword: BLACKTIE (17A. Fund-raiser wear, perhaps); BUTTERCUP (21A. Yellow flower); GUMERASER (58A. Artist’s smudge); HIGHNOON (64A. 1952 Gary Cooper western); MEATHEAD (3D. “All in the Family” nickname); and SOFTSOAP (40D. Cajole).

Links: CHARLES (18D. Son of Elizabeth II); AMULET (47D. Repeller of evil); LECHER (51D. Aqualung, e.g., in the 1971 Jethro Tull album); SPENCE (19A. Superlawyer Gerry); TENANT (55A. Lucy or Ricky, to Fred and Ethel); LIEUT (7D. Fuzz of “Beetle Bailey,” e.g.: Abbr.); TEPEE (16D. Hide-covered abode); TEXAN (53D. Either President Bush); BIBB; FOAL; ITO.

Balls!

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For today’s cartoon, go to

The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

05.27.08

ID

Merle Oberon, 1946 -- Courtesy of Universal Pictures and The Kobal Collection
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Puzzle by Adam G. Perl, edited by Will Shortz

NOID (52A. Reason to be barred from a bar… or the theme of this puzzle), along with three missing ID entries, SCENEOFANACC__ENT (17A. E.S.L. class, perhaps?); CONTINENTALDIV__E (36A. Seedy hangout across the Atlantic?); and RAP__RESPONSETEAM (56A. Hip-hop critics?) are the main inter-related entries of this Tuesday back-to-work crossword.

Three more sets of inter-related entries occur with MERLE (34A. With 44-Down, “Wuthering Heights” actress) and OBERON (44D. See 34-Across); SALTAWAY (29A. Save for a rainy day) and DEPOSIT (43A. Bank receipts); and by merit of their Shortzesque clues, WAIVE (30D. Give up) and YIELD (32D. Give up). Here’s Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier in the one-minute version of Wuthering Heights.

Other entries of interest -- TACOMA (10D. Puget Sound city); LEMON (15A. Slot machine fruit); PINUP (28D. Locker photo, maybe); SEDER (64A. Meal with readings); ADAM (1A. "Fall" guy); HAIR (54D. "Aquarius" musical); PERL, and WON (8D. Took all the marbles).

ADAM who? Identification please!

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

05.26.08

To Tell the Tooth

The Fairy Queen, by Sophie Anderson

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Monday, May 26, 2008

Puzzle by Mark Sherwood, edited by Will Shortz

At one time in Europe, there was a tradition to bury baby teeth that fell out. The most commonly accepted belief by academics is the fairy's development from the tooth mouse, depicted in an 18th century French language fairy tale. In "La Bonne Petite Souris," a mouse changes into a fairy to help a good Queen defeat an evil King by hiding under his pillow to torment him and knocking out all his teeth. -- Tooth Fairy, Wikipedia.

Now that makes for good business for DENTISTS (29A. Experts with the ends of 17- and 55-Across and 10- and 24-Down); with KNEEBRACES (17A. Strap-on leg supports); PIEFILLING (55A. Mincemeat, e.g.); BLASTINGCAP (10D. It sets things off); TRIPLECROWN (24D. Feat for Secretariat) -- the inter-related entries of this Monday, Memorial Day crossword puzzle.

A good-looking smile is important in Showbiz, which gets a fair representation with ACTOR (1A. Irons or Woods); BOZO (10A. Classic clown); SARDI (14A. Old Big Apple restaurateur); SEX (20A. Reason for an R rating); SISKEL (22A. Film critic Gene) and EBERT (60A. 22-Across’s longtime partner); Fox’s “American IDOL” [39A.]; JONI (50A. Mitchell who sang “Big Yellow Taxi”); CANE (2D. Chaplin prop); TATUM (31D. Jazz great Art); HEIDI (27D. Title heroine played by Shirley Temple in 1937); “Come Back, Little SHEBA” [32D.]; PALME d’Or (Cannes award) [34D.].

Today’s puzzle doubles up a few entries. Forming a cross in the center of the puzzle are DAVID (37A. Michelangelo masterpiece) and DOVES (29D. Hawks’ opposites). Scattered through the puzzle are other pairs such as SOARS (30D. Goes up, up, up) and SORES (63A. Things to salve); PACE (7D. Show worry in the waiting room, maybe) and PAVE (15A. Put blacktop on); ZANE (12D. Western writer Grey) and ZACH (47D. 2007 Masters champion Johnson); OPART (6D. Some psychedelic designs) and OPAL (6A. Iridescent gem); OINK (11D. Sound piggish) and BOAR (49D. Wild hog).

Other notables: DARKSPOT (37D. Appearing and disappearing feature on Jupiter); LESSENED (9D. Decreased); FIREARMS (42A. Rifle and revolver); SIMILES (41D. “Fresh as a daisy” and others); RIBCAGE (5D. Chest protector); CHARGE (26A. Cavalry cry); MIASMA (44A. Poisonous atmosphere) and ZEBRAS (47A. Football refs) the other longer entries of the crossword.

Floss!

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

05.25.08

MARTINI

Sunday, May 25, 2008

SPY GLASS, Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

A note for this puzzle reads “When this puzzle is done, the seven circles will contain the letters from A to G. Starting with A, connect them alphabetically with one continuous line, and you'll get an image of a 39-Across.”

Well, I didn’t go connecting circles, but 39-Across is MARTINI (See instructions in Notepad), with its symmetric partner below, ASPIRIN (97A. Offering from St. Joseph) -- is that a coincidence?

IANFLEMING (90A. Writer born May 28, 1908) will be one hundred years old this coming Wednesday, but this puzzle has beat him to it!

With it's clever SPY GLASS title, we are asked to remember six actors who have played the role of 72D. JAMES (Bond common to the answers to the six starred clues) which, together with the aforementioned MARTINI and IANFLEMING, bind the inter-related entries of this Sunday of Memorial Day weekend crossword -- no fireworks here, just a half-dozen smooth operators:

SEANCONNERY (3D. *1962-67, 1971); GEORGE LAZENBY (23A. *1969); ROGERMOORE (48A. *1973-85); TIMOTHYDALTON (68A. *1987-89); PIERCEBROSNAN (115A. *1995-2002); and DANIELCRAIG (71D. *2006- ), with SIR (33D. Title for 48-Across and 3-Down) for the two most senior members of the club.

The rest of the action in this puzzle is business-as-usual with a few exceptions as noted.

Across: 1. How architects’ models are built; 8. Lou Bega’s “MAMBO No. 5”; 26. Italian town known for its embroidery; 45. Sub systems; 50. Moles’ production; 55. Warhol’s “ASET of Six Self-Portraits”; 64. First mate; 82. Alexander Hamilton’s last act; 86. N.B.A.’s YAO Ming;102. Mexican beer;110. 2003 best-selling fantasy novel by teen author Christopher Paolini;123. Artist Watteau; 125. Singer Jones and others.

Down : 4. Attire with supersized pockets;14. Like some wrestling, (which ends up looking like THIS); Edwards and others: Abbr; 38D. “The Allegory of Love” writer, 1936; Butterfly experts, perhaps; 53. March 25, in the Christian calendar; 66D. In song, “Once you pass its borders, you can ne’er return again”; 74. It’s full of holes; 77. Rock guitarist once married to Goldie Hawn; 85. Bluesy Smith; 101. Game played with a 40-card deck.

Hey! Draw in the martini... a timely toast to "Bond, James Bond!"

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

05.25.08 -- the Acrostic

In England

The Enchanted Garden, John William Waterhouse
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Sunday, May 23, 2008

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday acrostic’s humorously terse quotation is drawn from To Be in England: An American Literary Man's Personal View (1969) by Richard Altick -- although I cannot immediately find the full quotation, it lives by itself quite well. An acrostic for spring as lovely as an enchanted garden!

The Quotation: AS VULGARIZERS THE BRITISH ARE INCOMPETENT IF THEY INVENT CHEAP GEWGAWS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE HOME AS MEMENTOS OF THEIR VISIT TO THE BARDS SHRINE THEY IMMEDIATELY SALVE THEIR CONSCIENCE BY PLANTING MORE FLOWER GARDENS.

The author’s name and title of the work: RICHARD ALTICK, TO BE IN ENGLAND

Oh, to be in England!

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For the unabridged post, go HERE.

05.24.08

Gray Matter

From Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, with an image of the human brain depicted behind that of God, from a brain surgeon‘s Website.
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Saturday, May 24, 2008

Puzzle by Charles Barasch, edited by Will Shortz

Opening with two Shortzesque double-clued entries GUESSER (1A. One taking a shot) and GUNMAN (1D. One taking a shot); REND (7D. Split) and DASHED AWAY (8D. Split); along with a third set, VEERED (54A. Went [off]) and ERRED (56A. Went off), and a near fourth set, ASSTDA (17A. Second in court?: Abbr.); LATTER (30A. Second); this crossword is a poser, right down to the last entry of SEERESS (57A. Girl with a future?).

In between are the intriguing entries, MARRIEDWITHKIDS (18A. Like a family man); ITSLOVE (35D. Song from Bernstein’s “Wonderful Town”); QUALITYTIME (38A. What most couples try to have together); RISK (9D. Gamble); FATWALLET (15D. It’s stuffed with dough); and LEADADOUBLELIFE (46A. Be like Clark Kent) and SADDENED (11D. Brought down).

Other entries of note include OSTINATO (10D. Repeated musical phrase); PIRSQUARED (25D. Area of interest to Archimedes); SLASHER; FAISAL (15A. Mideast royal name); UNIATE (2D. Certain Christian); SPEAR (36A. Sticker); DORE, IOWE, and SWAN.

For more matter, go HERE, but it doesn’t matter -- it’s just gray matter!

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

05.23.08

Whatville

Friday, May 23, 2008

Puzzle by Patrick John Duggan, edited by Will Shortz

WHOVILLE (7A. Dr. Seuss story setting), along with AUREVOIR (16A. Parting words); ISITSAFE (18A. Memorable “Marathon Man” query) start the merry-go-round of long entries in this Friday Memorial-Day-weekend puzzle. Starting from there (upper right) and continuing clockwise to lower right are THEALAMO (36D. Historic mission); SOPRANOS (38D. Crime family); UPSSTORE (38D. Popular boxing venue); to lower left with LEANONME (54A. 1989 film set in an inner-city high school); DUTYFREE (58A. Like some airport purchases); SPECTERS (60A. Spirits); and upper left, SSMINNOW (1D. It was shipwrecked in 1964 somewhere in the South Pacific); CORLEONE (2D. Crime family name); and ATTESTED (3D. Bore witness [to]).

What else?...

Some stuff across: 17. Fop in “The Wind in the Willows”; 20. One of a French literary trio; 23. 1987 Costner role; 30. Reddish-brown gems; 35. Literally, “art of softness”; 46. Fifth state to ratify the Constitution: Abbr.; 49. Where you can find hammers and anvils; 50. Beginning and end of 20-Across’s motto.

Some downs: 5. Bucket of bolts; Kerry and McCain, e.g.; 21. Doctor often seen on writers’ bookshelves; 24. Element used to make semiconductors; 28. Destroyers of many castles; 35. Title girl in a 1958 hit by the Playmates; 40. Military construction crew; 55. U.N.’s home.

With both CORLEONE and the SOPRANOS in the same puzzle, it's AUREVOIR, and off to Whatville!

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

05.22.08

OMEN

Smoke Rings, Dzeni, Auckland, New Zealand
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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Puzzle by Richard Silvestri, edited by Will Shortz

The letter O -- two or three apiece for six proper names, referred to by OMEN (38D. Sign … or a description of the answers to the six starred clues?) -- constitute the inter-related entries of this Thursday thrasher: BJORNBORG (17A *Five-time Wimbledon winner); ROBMORROW (24A. *”Numb3rs” star); JOHNBROWN (51A. *Harpers Ferry raider); TOMPOSTON (64A. *”Newhart” actor); TOOTSSHOR (3D. *Famed restaurateur); DONKNOTTS (36D. *Co-star of “The Andy Griffith Show”).

O-MEN with additional non-O vowels include HARPO (7D. Silent film star); RATSO (45D. Role for Dustin Hoffman); ERNO (37D. Rubik of cube fame); MOE (47A. Howard in shorts); a TORY (43A. Winston Churchill, e.g.); 27D. : Paris :: Gardemoen : OSLO, qualifying as the Norse homonym meaning 'god' or 'divinity'; and WHOME (55D. Exclamation of feigned innocence) are lurking in the smoky shadows -- not NAMED (56D. Yclept) or set apart with an asterisk.

Where's WALDO?

A few more of the across clues: 20. “Socrate” composer; 23. Reggae relative; 29. Card game whose name is called out during play; 41. “The Last Supper,” e.g.; 68. Classic spy plane.

A few downs: 10. Vesta, Pallas or Hygiea; 25. Haircut that’s short on the top and sides and long in back; 40. Athletes on horses; 54. One of an old drive-in double feature, maybe.

For a few more "O" men, go HERE, or HERE, or HERE!

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

05.21.08

Make-up

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Puzzle by Dave Mackey, edited by Will Shortz

Make-up in the form of the inter-related entries of ROUGEETNOIR (17A. Solitaire card game); SHADOWBOXERS (24A. Pugs in gyms, at times); SOLIDFOUNDATION (37A. Good thing to build on); ATFIRSTBLUSH (50A. Initially) and LUXURYLINER (59A. Cunard fleet member), put on a good face on this smooth Wednesday crossword puzzle.

SHOWERGIFT (11D. Item from a registry, perhaps) and RELIEFMAPS (30D. They show altitude) ache to join the group -- indeed a little shower would provide relief from all that make-up. BRUSH (52D Toiletry kit item) and BRISTLE (48A. 52-Down part), could also join in, along with TRAIT (51D. Red hair or freckles), LIP (64A. Collagen target) and to top it off, WIG (4D. Go nuts, with “out”). What a FUSS (28D. Something to kick up); what an ADO (8D. Stir)!

FURIOSO (28A. Forcefully, in music) and LENTO (7D. Slowly, on a score) join a BLUR (48D. Astigmatic’s view) of long entries including NITWIT (1A. Birdbrain), CARHOP (10D. “American Graffiti” extra); ARMLET (47D. Decorative band); THETAS (6D. Certain sorority members); RUNYON (49D. “Guys and Dolls” is based on his writing); ENRICH (14A. Add value to); OAKTAG (66A. Poster stock); and NTESTS (69A. Big blasts, for short).

The five-letter group includes AIDER, AMBLE, DEEDS, ETATS, HAWED, MRMOM, ROPER, SOFTG, USEME. Four-letter, ANTS, ASIS, BEAT, BOND, EATS, EDDA, FATS, HOTL, INGE, INON, LAIC, NERO, OAST, ORGS, SIMI, TECH, TOSH, TRUE, USOC, WREN. Three-letter, AAH, ABO, AXE, BAA, ETS, GHI, HEN, HIE, HUH, ICE, IDI, IKE, LAT, ODE, ONE, RUN, SAD, SCI, TIO, TOT, UAE, and XTC.

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

05.20.08

Menagerie

Jackalope
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Puzzle by Billie Truitt, edited by Will Shortz

A very active menagerie occupies this Tuesday crossword -- STYLING MOOSE (20A. Antlered salon employee?), MISSINGLYNX (31A. Lost bobcat?), SPANKINGGNU (45A. Wildebeest who doesn’t spare the rod?) and CRASHINGBOAR (52A. Unwelcome porcine party attendee?), inter-related entries of paronomasia, along with stand-alones ROE (66A. European deer), MYNAHS (25D. Chatty avians), STUNG (32D. Attacked by a jellyfish), OCEAN (57A. Crawfish’s home) and OINK (22D. Barnyard sound).

Humans include a HOBO (14A. Boxcar hopper), RIDER (19A. Fare payer), NIA (24A. Actress Vardalos), MOE (25A. Curly poker), a SALESMAN (40A. One with a pitch), SRS (47A. Future alums: Abbr.), ROSA (64A. Parks of Montgomery), PHDS (1D. Profs’ degs.), BLONDIE (5D. Mrs. Bumstead), a WEELAD (30D. Li’l fellow) and EXPATS.


...and ODOR (54D. What wavy lines signify in the comics).

For the full post, go HERE!

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