Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Puzzle by Doug Peterson, edited by Will Shortz FREQUENTFLIRTER (17A. Singles bar habitué?); PARTYASYOUGO (28A. Do some barhopping?); ALPINESKIRTS (47A. Dirndls?); MARTINCHARACTER (63A. “Wild and crazy guy” on the old “S.N.L.”?) along with RTS (71A. Football linemen, for short, caught in 17-, 28-, 47- and 63-Across?) are this crossword’s inter-related entries -- the idea being, I gather, that omitting the RT in each of the longer entries produces something different, e.g., frequent flier, pay as you go, alpine skis, and main character. This makes a plodding solve, uninteresting and unrewarding -- it must be me, I’m sure. It didn’t help that I kept recalling dreidel instead of dirndl -- and that I never noticed 71A until I began writing this commentary. There's even less kick in the remainder of the puzzle -- ONEACROSS (3D. This answer intersects it) and OPERASTAR (36D. Callas or Sills) are the two nine-letter entries; CARDROOM (10D. Hold’em venue) and THANATOS (40D. Death personified, in ancient Greece), the eight. Seven-letter entries include POSTURE (39A. Stooped shoulders, e.g.); GLIMPSE (41A. Quick peek); CATSEYE (7D. Certain marble); and ONAWHIM (45D. For the heck of it). Six-letter, UNDIES (22A. Intimate wear, informally); ALKALI (55A. Lye, e.g.); NYQUIL (24D. Vicks brand); TOGGLE (26A Two-position switch); SEENIN (31D. Tended to by the butler, say); and GLINKA (32D. “A Life for the Tsar” composer). Five-letter, AKRON, AMAZE, BROOK, CLARE, FIRST, FLEES, IAMBS, LOOPY, MARCO, NOLAN, OUTIE, PAULI, PINUP, QUEEG, SCOFF, SENSE, SHEAF, SUSHI. Four-letter, AHEM, ALOU, ASTO, BANA, CRUZ, ESAU, ICAN, IMAC, LIKE, LUAU, OARS, ORES, PAIN, PEPS, PSST, QUIT, RENT, REST, SPIN, TEXT, WIFE, YEPS. Three-letter, AMA, ANA, APE, AUR, AXE, CIN, CPA, ELO, ESP, ETA, IAN, LAS, MSU, MTS, OFF, WBC, WOO. ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
05.14.08
Linemen
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Puzzle by Doug Peterson, edited by Will Shortz FREQUENTFLIRTER (17A. Singles bar habitué?); PARTYASYOUGO (28A. Do some barhopping?); ALPINESKIRTS (47A. Dirndls?); MARTINCHARACTER (63A. “Wild and crazy guy” on the old “S.N.L.”?) along with RTS (71A. Football linemen, for short, caught in 17-, 28-, 47- and 63-Across?) are this crossword’s inter-related entries -- the idea being, I gather, that omitting the RT in each of the longer entries produces something different, e.g., frequent flier, pay as you go, alpine skis, and main character. This makes a plodding solve, uninteresting and unrewarding -- it must be me, I’m sure. It didn’t help that I kept recalling dreidel instead of dirndl -- and that I never noticed 71A until I began writing this commentary. There's even less kick in the remainder of the puzzle -- ONEACROSS (3D. This answer intersects it) and OPERASTAR (36D. Callas or Sills) are the two nine-letter entries; CARDROOM (10D. Hold’em venue) and THANATOS (40D. Death personified, in ancient Greece), the eight. Seven-letter entries include POSTURE (39A. Stooped shoulders, e.g.); GLIMPSE (41A. Quick peek); CATSEYE (7D. Certain marble); and ONAWHIM (45D. For the heck of it). Six-letter, UNDIES (22A. Intimate wear, informally); ALKALI (55A. Lye, e.g.); NYQUIL (24D. Vicks brand); TOGGLE (26A Two-position switch); SEENIN (31D. Tended to by the butler, say); and GLINKA (32D. “A Life for the Tsar” composer). Five-letter, AKRON, AMAZE, BROOK, CLARE, FIRST, FLEES, IAMBS, LOOPY, MARCO, NOLAN, OUTIE, PAULI, PINUP, QUEEG, SCOFF, SENSE, SHEAF, SUSHI. Four-letter, AHEM, ALOU, ASTO, BANA, CRUZ, ESAU, ICAN, IMAC, LIKE, LUAU, OARS, ORES, PAIN, PEPS, PSST, QUIT, RENT, REST, SPIN, TEXT, WIFE, YEPS. Three-letter, AMA, ANA, APE, AUR, AXE, CIN, CPA, ELO, ESP, ETA, IAN, LAS, MSU, MTS, OFF, WBC, WOO. ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Puzzle by Doug Peterson, edited by Will Shortz FREQUENTFLIRTER (17A. Singles bar habitué?); PARTYASYOUGO (28A. Do some barhopping?); ALPINESKIRTS (47A. Dirndls?); MARTINCHARACTER (63A. “Wild and crazy guy” on the old “S.N.L.”?) along with RTS (71A. Football linemen, for short, caught in 17-, 28-, 47- and 63-Across?) are this crossword’s inter-related entries -- the idea being, I gather, that omitting the RT in each of the longer entries produces something different, e.g., frequent flier, pay as you go, alpine skis, and main character. This makes a plodding solve, uninteresting and unrewarding -- it must be me, I’m sure. It didn’t help that I kept recalling dreidel instead of dirndl -- and that I never noticed 71A until I began writing this commentary. There's even less kick in the remainder of the puzzle -- ONEACROSS (3D. This answer intersects it) and OPERASTAR (36D. Callas or Sills) are the two nine-letter entries; CARDROOM (10D. Hold’em venue) and THANATOS (40D. Death personified, in ancient Greece), the eight. Seven-letter entries include POSTURE (39A. Stooped shoulders, e.g.); GLIMPSE (41A. Quick peek); CATSEYE (7D. Certain marble); and ONAWHIM (45D. For the heck of it). Six-letter, UNDIES (22A. Intimate wear, informally); ALKALI (55A. Lye, e.g.); NYQUIL (24D. Vicks brand); TOGGLE (26A Two-position switch); SEENIN (31D. Tended to by the butler, say); and GLINKA (32D. “A Life for the Tsar” composer). Five-letter, AKRON, AMAZE, BROOK, CLARE, FIRST, FLEES, IAMBS, LOOPY, MARCO, NOLAN, OUTIE, PAULI, PINUP, QUEEG, SCOFF, SENSE, SHEAF, SUSHI. Four-letter, AHEM, ALOU, ASTO, BANA, CRUZ, ESAU, ICAN, IMAC, LIKE, LUAU, OARS, ORES, PAIN, PEPS, PSST, QUIT, RENT, REST, SPIN, TEXT, WIFE, YEPS. Three-letter, AMA, ANA, APE, AUR, AXE, CIN, CPA, ELO, ESP, ETA, IAN, LAS, MSU, MTS, OFF, WBC, WOO. ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
