WALDO
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Puzzle by Pete Muller, edited by Will Shortz
WHERESWALDO (35A. Question posed by a 1987 children’s best seller)? -- INTHECORNER (43A. This puzzle’s answer to 35-Across [spelled out four times]). The letters (and thus, the name) W, A, L, D and O appear(s) four more times diagonally from the corners toward the center of the puzzle. Cute!
Most likely, a solver will take under consideration the longer entries of the crossword as being possibly inter-related as is usual; however, they are not -- ELLIPTICAL (17A. Like many planetary orbits), MONTICELLO (61A. Building seen on a nickel), NILESCRANE (11D. 1990s-2000s sitcom shrink) and PERSONALAD (31D. Purchase of one who’s looking for love) -- but are merely part of the crssword crowd in which W A L D O is hidden.
Those four ten-letter entries are joined by two seven-letter entries: MAOISTS (26A. Long March participants) and TANDOOR (49A. Indian oven), and a dozen six-letter entries: 10D. Maine’s ACADIA National Park; ALONSO (15A. “The Tempest” king); ARIANE (65A. French satellite launcher); CWPOST (29D. Breakfast cereal pioneer); GRANDE (41D. Starbucks size); IDCARD (18D. It may be swiped); NAPLES (68A. City with a view of Vesuvius); RATING (4A. PG or R); SHASTA (30D. Cascades peak); SOBERS (28D. Gets over drunkenness, with “up”); THEPEN (27D. It’s “mightier,” in a saying); UDDERS (46D. Jersey parts?).
Five-letter entries include ALTAR (5D. Rite site); CSPAN (29A. Airer of Congressional proceedings); GOLDA (9D. Israel’s Meir); KASHI (33D. Whole-grain cereal pioneer); MACHO (34A. Far from wimpy); OPINE (52D. Speak one’s mind); OSMAN (50D. Ottoman Turk leader); 48A. Composer Camille Saint-SAENS; STOUT (45A. Pub serving); TASTE (40A. Sample).
The four-corner entries resulting in the W for the four WALDOs are the three-and-four-letter entries WHO and WHEW; ANEW and WOO; SSW and WADS; and SEW and LOEW. The remaining four letter entries are ADOS, ALAE, ALTO, CIAO, CORE, DEAL, DUDE, ELMS, GAPE, HALO, INCA, ITOO, MOON, OSLO, PARD, SAAR, SALE, SNIP, UOMO, WOOD. Three-letter, AAA, ALA, EAT, EIN, HAS, MAE, NSA, ONE, ORA, OSO, RAP, SEP, STN, TKO.
Where’s Waldo? HERE!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.