The Tower of Babel as depicted in the engraving The Confusion of Tongues by Gustave Doré
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Sunday, June 1, 2008 EXTRA SYLL-UH-BLES, Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz Paronomasia with silly syllables (say "uh") constitute the inter-related across entries of this wryly amusing Sunday crossword puzzle -- BUYABLEBELT (22. Waistband sold in stores?); MORALLYSAFER (27. Wiser from an ethical perspective?); THESALIVATIONARMY (32. Fighting force trained by Pavlov?); CORONERONTHEMARKET (56. Freelance autopsist?); HUMMABLEBEGINNINGS (63. Catchy song parts heard on “Name That Tune”?); RIOTINGIMPLEMENTS (81. Stones and brickbats?); RENTASENATOR (92A. Store that peddles political influence?); REDSKELETON (99. Boiled lobster’s feature?). The best clue of this crossword is for ORANGE (49D. Self-descriptive fruit). Others: SAWS (13A. They may be big fellers); ADAM (41A. Leading man?); ASSES (72A. Pack carriers); ATTACKDOG (98A. Its bite is worse than its bark); SNOW (109. Fall around Christmas); WATER (15D. It’s in the spring); THUD (32D. Sound of a failure); MAST (44D. Ensign holder); PURSE (59D. Place to keep Mace); MISREAD (79D. Think that might is right?). Puzzle personae: ADAM and SATAN (13D. Evildoer); MELMOTH the Wanderer” (1820 gothic novel) (9D.); JOHANN (10D. Composer Pachelbel); LADD (1A. Diane of “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”); DEY (40A. Actress Susan of “L.A. Law”); PAOLO (59A. Renaissance painter Uccello); CLAUDIA (61A. Lady Bird Johnson’s given birth name); SMEE (68A. Captain Hook’s mate in “Peter Pan”); MEESE (90A. Attorney general during Reagan’s second term); LANG (91A. “Metropolis” director); RONA (105A. Barrett of gossip); DOPEY (108A. Only beardless one of the Seven Dwarfs); ROSEY (21D. N.F.L. star Grier); CASS (30D. Buchanan’s secretary of state); INIGO (34D. Architect Jones); REESE (37D. Actress Witherspoon); ALGER (43D. “Tattered Tom” author); ASTIN (48D. John of “The Addams Family”); HANSARP (58D. Founding member of the Dadaists); GEORG (84D. Ohm of Ohm’s law); ELLERY (85D. Queen of mystery); HETTY Sorrel (woman in a love triangle in “Adam Bede”) (87D.); NORA Roberts, first inductee into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame (94D.). Locations: RABAT (21A. World capital formerly a pirate stronghold); OCALA (49A. City just west of Silver Springs); ERITREA (66A. Country with a camel on its coat of arms); GRAEME Park, historical home near Philadelphia (52D.); PINSK (78D. Belarus port). A few more links: 9D. Rimbaud’s UNE Saison en Enfer”, who hasn‘t had one of those?; AEROBE (46D. Bacterium that needs oxygen), I was squeezing in an “amoeba“; GAITER (104A. Ankle covering), not “garter“; ALLTEL (5D. Mobile phone company), this is the first time I heard of this company; CRASH (86D. 2005 Best Picture winner). ------------------ For today's cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
