07.31.08

Heaven, Earth and Hell

A Soul Brought to Heaven, by Adolph William Bouguereau
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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Puzzle by Allan E. Parrish, edited by Will Shortz

Heaven, Earth and Hell get musical representation in today’s crossword with the interrelated entries of TOOMUCHHEAVEN (19A. 1979 Bee Gee chart-topper), RAREEARTH (34A. Band with the 1970 hit “Get Ready”) and HIGHWAYTOHELL (50A. 1979 AC/DC seven-time platinum album).

Near the end of his life, W. C. Fields, was asked by a friend who caught Fields reading The Bible if he had become religious -- Fields replied, not at all -- "I'm checking for a loophole"!

For the complete post, go HERE.

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

07.30.08

Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, detail of an oil painting attributed to John Taylor, c. 1610. National Portrait Gallery, London
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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Puzzle by Elizabeth A. Long, edited by Will Shortz

SHAKESPEARE is the subject of today’s interrelated entries -- FANTASTICAND (20A. Part 1 of a quote attributed to Sam Goldwyn) ITWASALLWRITTEN (37A. Part 2 of the quote) WITHAFEATHER (52A. End of the quote), along with the notation of “When this puzzle is finished, the 11 circled letters in reading order will spell the subject of the quote starting at 20-Across”.

For today's complete post, go HERE.

07.29.08

Great

Henry Andrews (18?-1868), William Pleater Davidge as Malvolio in Twelfth Night, c.1846

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Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Puzzle by David Kwong and Emily Halpern, edited by Will Shortz

"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them". - (Twelfth Night, Act II, Scene V, Wm. Shakespeare).

In today's crossword, GREAT is replaced in the entries of THEDECENTGATSBY (17A. Mediocre F. Scott Fitzgerald novel?), GOODBARRIERREEF (27A. Mediocre place in scuba?), THENOTBADESCAPE (49A. Mediocre Steve McQueen film?) and OKAYBALLSOFFIRE (65A. Mediocre Jerry Lee Lewis hit?).

EITHEROR (10D. “Take you pick”) and SYNONYMS (40D. Roget’s listings) are INDEED (4D. “For sure!“) appropriate entries for a crossword’s CRAFTY (51D. Cunningly evil) clues, whether one CLOAKS (18D. Items of apparel for Dracula) or gives a PSEUDO (42D. False start?) to the solver.

With the exact same clue as his appearance in the June 23rd crossword, BOGIE (1A. “Casablanca” star, informally), headlines a parade of personages, including EROS (39A. Bow-wielding god); 25A. Daisy MAE, who went to Marryin’ Sam; and 45D. Alley OOP.

Non-personage five-letter entries include CORAL (38A. Atoll makeup); RIATA (31D. Cowpoke‘s rope); TIARA (16A. Bejeweled topper).

This puzzle? Decent… Not bad… Good… Okay… GREAT!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.28.08

Mondays

ANGEL (3D. Extremely well-behaved child)
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Monday, July 28, 2008

Puzzle by Roger Baiocchi, edited by Will Shortz

START (1A. With 21-Across, begin from scratch) ATSQUAREONE (21A. See 1-Across), TAKECENTERSTAGE (41A. Move into the limelight) and ENDUPINLAST (59A. With 73-Across, be beaten by the rest of the field) PLACE (73A. See 59-Across) are the interrelated entries of this Monday back-to-work crossword, along with 72A. SITE-specific (like the answers at 1-, 41- and 73-Across).

On the grade of easy to difficult from Monday to Saturday, the start of the week always seems so friendly., perhaps because solvers never get a day off -- Monday’s are the closest to a vacation. One could just pile up a few days’ puzzles and knock ‘em off mid-week. However, for most it is a fix, an addiction, a must-do every morning along with a cup of JOE (40. Coffee, in slang). If you worked Sunday’s crossword, with its voluminous amount of some of the smallest entries one could possibly cram into one puzzle, plus glyphs of up, down, left and right -- well, then you certainly know what I mean when I say Monday starts the week in a friendly manner.

A few links: RELISH (24A. Hot dog topping); SYLVAN (36A. Woodsy); ANGEL (3D. Extremely well-behaved child); 57. OPTIC nerve; TEXAS (9D. Sam Houston served as its president, senator and governor); AJAX, MANX, MOON and NOME.

Have a great week -- start at square one, take center stage, and end up in first place!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.27.08

Every Which Way

Sunday, July 27, 2008

GOING EVERY WHICH WAY, Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel and David Quarfoot, edited by Will Shortz

The main entries of today’s crossword feature directional glyphs -- eight entries contain two directions each -- either [up], [down], [left] and/or [right] are the following:

[Up] STAIRS [down] STAIRS (29A. Popular 1970s British TV series);
[left] IT [up] TOCHANCE (38A. Took the risk);
SIT [down] ANDSHUT [up] (125A. Exasperated teacher’s cry);
[right] WHEREYOU [left] THEM (137A. Missing glasses location, usually);
[down] THE [left] FIELDLINE (16D. Barely fair, maybe);
STANDING [up] [right] (36D. Erect);
[left] A [down] PAYMENT (72D. Secured, in a way, with “on”);
ITS [right] [up] YOURALLEY (70. Sentiment suggesting “Try this!”).

The sixteen supporting entries each containing one direction each:

Across -- [down] BOY (16. Command to an overfriendly canine); ALL[right] (37. “Now you’re talking!”); THE [left] (71. Liberals); [down] SIZING (84. Cause of unemployment); S [up] DOG (91. Slangy street greeting); [right] ON (90A. “Amen!”); SET [up] S (95. Arrangements); [right] END (101. Football defensive line position).

Down -- DAM [up] (1. Block); [down] SHIFTED (31. Went from second to first, say); [left] ONBASE (38. Not brought home); [up] AT (41. Awake by); RESTED [up] (89. Took it easy); STAGE [right] (105. Common entry point); GO [down] (113. Happen, slangily); [left] EYE (140. Bazooka Joe’s working peeper).

As a sacrifice to the [up], [down], [left] and/or [right] gimmick, the remainder of the crossword is composed mostly of fragments and odds and ends, making for an unusual amount of small entries and their subsequent clues -- For a Sunday crossword, an average amount is somewhere around 120 or so, across and down.


Across links: 1. 2003 Stanley Cup champions; 20. Genus of poisonous mushrooms; 24. Actress Polo; 25. Nickname for a bodybuilder; 56. “Think big” sloganeer; 57. One inside another; 68. Warner Brothers shotgun toter; 82. “The Praise of Folly” writer; 114. GINNIE Mae; 145. Genesis son; 156. Unesco World Heritage Site in Jordan.

Down links: 2. Birds than can sprint at 30 m.p.h.; 9. Arrangement of 40-Downs; 14. Longtime Boston Symphony conductor; 33. Will Ferrell title role; 48. Proposed “fifth taste,” which means “savory” in Japanese; 62. Benedict III’s predecessor; 81. Construction project that gave rise to the Ted Williams Tunnel; TV puppet; 129. Singer Mann; 142. Early Chinese dynasty; 147. Cartoon feline.

It's cold comfort that the arrow glyphs could possibly save time in a crossword that seems to shatter into way too many shards -- more a pile of rubble than a mosaic. Bug (today's Shortzesque clue) is used twice as a clue, once for 32A...

...and once for ANNOY (109A. Bug). Apropos!

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

For the complete post, click HERE.

07.26.08

Dream

“The Bride” -- Jan Thorn-Prikker

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Saturday, July 26, 2008

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz

In the course of solving a crossword, it can be frustrating to encounter multiple and oddly-juxtaposed consonants and vowels, but that's the stuff of which puzzles are made. Today's sports a heavy dose. An in-progress solving may leave one with consecutive-square partial entries of illogical-looking fragments, e.g. EAEA, MRW, STK, XNA, OUE, RSK, QS, QT, QW with a couple of RH's, coyly embellished with an assortment of slippery clues. That, however, is just fine, for crosswords are often a SURREAL (45D. Fantastic) wedding of a nightmare and a dream.

The solitary business of solving is well-represented here with the two long entries of the crossword, ROLLING STONE (7D. Drifter), which can be either a person who drifts from place to place or a rock or ground drill, and ELEANORRIGBY (21D. Title woman of song who “lives in a dream”). Comfort for the frustrated comes in the form of IGNOREIT (62A. “Nothing to get upset about”) and THERENOW (15A. Words of solace); while for the maven, there is MRWIZARD (1A. Conductor of many TV experiments) and IQTEST (9A. Many people get 100 on it); and for everyone there is STUMBLE (13D. Err); DWELLON (8D. Refuse to let go of) and EATITUP (12D. Fall for something hook, line and sinker) or just 42. “Let ITGO”!

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been/ Lives in a dream/ Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door/ Who is it for?/ All the lonely people/ Where do they all come from ?/ All the lonely people/ Where do they all belong ? -- lyrics, Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.25.08

Idols & Idyls

Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger

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Friday, July 25, 2008

Puzzle by John Farmer, edited by Will Shortz

The entry of JUMPINJACKFLASH (7D. Rolling Stones hit just before “Honky Tonk Women”) sports 12 black squares on its sides that fairly well divide this crossword in half, while the three remaining squares to either side of the 15-letter entry both contain ONE in the entries of ONEONONES (31D. Some court contests) and APOLLOONE (8D. Ill-fated NASA effort) and NAN (38A. Britton who wrote “The President’s Daughter,” 1927) as the three-letter across entry binding the down entries. SOJOURNERS (30A. Visitors) and TIMEPIECES (40A. Ones with read faces?) connect the center to the four corners of the crossword.

It appears that with “The President’s Daughter” Nan Britton wrote what is considered to be the first kiss-and-tell book, one in which she claimed to have been the mistress of President Warren G. Harding, and that Harding was the father of her daughter, Elizabeth Ann. One passage mentions their making love in a coat closet in the executive office of the White House. Déjà vu!

A few links: UPACREEK (16A. In Dutch); HASHEESH (62A. Weed); WATTLE (22A. Turkey‘s dewlap); and for the across clues of 35. Cousin of a woodcock; 39. Fifth-century pope, the first to receive the title “the Great”; 56. “Your children are not your children” poet; 57. Bank of America Stadium team; and for the down clues of 2. Quaker Oats product; 5. TV announcer who played himself in “Bananas”; 9. Jazz pianist/composer Williams; 13. Five-time Horse of the Year, 1960-64; 47. Legendary MacGregor; 49. Florida’s OCALA National Forest; and with no link, 58. Invention that’s not thought highly of -- LIE.

As to the origins of Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones’ Richards has stated that he and Jagger wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards' country house, where they were woke up one morning by the sound of the gardener, Jack Dyer, walking past their window. When Jagger asked what the noise was, Richards responded: "Oh, that's Jack - that's jumpin' Jack." However, Jagger said in a 1995 interview with the publication Rolling Stone that the song arose "...out of all the acid of Satanic Majesties... It's about having a hard time and getting out. Just a metaphor for getting out of all the acid things." Hear it HERE.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.24.08

Enough

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg, edited by Will Shortz

ONCEISNOTENOUGH (35A. Jacqueline Susann novel, and the problem with some of the answers in this puzzle) is a fair enough entry/clue for DUMBULLETS (17A. Hollow-point projectiles); WINSITUATION (22A. Mutually beneficial interaction); CHIRODRIGUEZ (45A. Puerto Rican-born P.G.A. star); and RAINGOAWAY (56A. Child’s fair-weather wish).

This is a puzzle that could have one stuttering and stumbling. Personally, I’ve never heard of Chi Chi Rodriguez, always thought one “rain“ in “Rain, go away” was sufficient, opted for “bee” and then “tam” (what the heck are those) bullets, and had no idea what kind of a “blank” situation was being requested.

Nonetheless, the remainder of the entries sort of IRONEDOUT (30A. Reconciled) the CHASM (45D. Wide divide) and like 37D. “You IDIOT!” (cry while hitting oneself on the head), what seemed an ETERNITY (36D. Forever) came to an end upon discovering the non-existent DUMDUM, WINWIN, CHICHI and RAINRAIN, along with the existent MYMY (61A. “Really!”) and LULUS (6D. Beauts).

Today's linkage: THE (40A. Order at a French restaurant); FELINE (5D. Like a leopard); ELFIN (21A. Pixie-esque); EMMYS (62A. Annual awards presented in Los Angeles); FLYNN (13D. One of the Mudville players on base when the mighty Casey struck out); HALEY (46D. See 14-Across) which is ALEX (14A. With 46-Down, writer of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”); and “HER Majesty“ (last track on “Abbey Road").

All in all, a puzzle that’s pleasant enough to PLEASE (42A. Delight)!

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

For the complete post, click HERE.

07.23.08

Alas, no ZSAZSA!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Puzzle by Henry Quillen, edited by Will Shortz

Interrelated entries in this Wednesday wonder are contained in a whirling pattern of faint circles in the diagram meeting at the center of the grid with ATOZTOA crossing ARIZONA, anchoring two arms of A to Z and Z to A entries.

Diagonally from upper left to down right are a string of entries in the circles, alternating entries that start with Z first and end with A last with entries that start with A first and end with Z last and exchanging order in the center of the puzzle -- ZIMA (1A. Coors product), ARROZ (4D. Ingrediente en paella), ZESTA (23A. Keebler cracker brand), ARIZONA (24D. Flagstaff‘s place), ADBIZ (52A. Madison Ave. trade), ZEENA (53D. Ethan Frome’s wife) and ANTZ (70A. Animated film hit of 1998).

Again, diagonally, this time from lower left to upper right are the second string of entries in circles, alternating with entries that this time start with A first and end with Z last with entries that start with Z first and end with A last, and again exchanging order in the center of the puzzle -- ARNAZ (58A. Ball’s comic partner), ALCATRAZ (39D. The Rock), ATOZTOA (39A. Theme of this puzzle), 9D. Cubic ZIRCONIA (gem) and ZAPPA (9A. Frank in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame).

A few more links: 63A. Queen HENRIETTA Maria, mother of England’s Charles II and James II, OILBARON (40D. Getty or Rockefeller), MEARA (65A. Stiller’s comic partner) and ARNAZ (68A. Ball’s comic partner), RENE (15A. Surrealist Magritte), ACHESON (10D. Truman’s last secretary of state), BABYM (26D. Child in a 1980s custody case), YADDA (32D. When said three times, “et cetera”), LINEARA (43D. Ancient Cretan writing system), THEUN (28D. N.Y.C. country club?), and MUNICH brings to mind (46A. Birthplace of Richard Strauss), "Thus Spoke Zarathustra."

Alas, no ZSAZSA!

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

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For the complete post, go HERE.

07.22.08

N is for...

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz

A very popular crossword gimmick is to insert an extra letter into several entries resulting in a second and goofy meaning, clued to suit the result, usually with a question mark.

In today‘s puzzle, removing the letter N from the interrelated entries of SNACKRACE (18A. Competitive noshers’ event?), SNORELOSER (23A. One cured of a sleep disorder?), SNIDELINE (35A. Sarcastic comment?), TURKEYSNUB (48A. Brushoff from the Ottomans?) and BABYSNITS (53A. Terrible-twos tantrums?) provides the more familiar sack race, sore loser, sideline (or snide lie), turkey sub and baby-sits.

Recent examples of the genre -- ID, 05.27.08; RT, 05.14.08; RR, 03.16.08; L on 12.16.07, and L again on 11.18.07.


For the complete post, go HERE.

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

07.21.08

...and God Created Woman

Jeannette MacDonald, The Merry Widow, 1934
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Monday, July 21, 2008

Puzzle by Gilbert H. Ludwig, edited by Will Shortz

As light as a feather, this Monday crossword could almost make one forget it’s a back-to-work day, but then so many of us may be on vacation we’ll not even come across this delightful puzzle, a no-nonsense, exotic little paean to the fair sex.

THEGAYDIVORCEE (20A. 1934 title role for Ginger Rogers), THEMERRYWIDOW (35A. 1934 title role for Jeanette MacDonald) and THEHAPPYHOOKER (51A. 1975 Title role for Lynn Redgrave) constitute a teasing triumvirate of interrelated entries.

The ladies also flourish in this crossword with the inclusion of ESTHER (2D. Purim heroine), EVA (25A. With 56-Across, Saint of Hollywood) MARIE (56A. See 25-Across), ODAY (5D. Jazzy Anita), 63A. Writer Zora NEALE Hurston, 15A. Journalist ADELA Rogers St. Johns, all joining in on the metaphorical PEALS (9A. Sounds of bells or laughter) of the divorcee, the widow and the hooker.

A few more links -- CAESAR (39A. Emperor killed on the Ides of March), EDGAR (16A. Whodunit award), LORRE (50D. Peter of “M”), HORTON (47D. Dr. Seuss elephant), OSCAR (60A. “Sesame Street” grouch), AMERICA (28D. Song that begins “My country, ‘tis of thee”), SEWER (62A. Stinky stream), SIPHON (43D. Drain furtively, maybe) when paired with GAS (21A. Phase hotter than liquid).

Sure God created man before woman. But then you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece. ~ Author Unknown

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


For the complete post, go HERE.

07.20.08 -- the Acrostic

Cryptology

Sunday, July 20, 2008

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

This Sunday’s acrostic features a rather innocuous quotation from Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon.

The quotation: THERE WAS A TIME WHEN PLACES LIKE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE EXISTED TO TRAIN MINISTERS AND THEIR JOB WAS TO SAY SOMETHING THOUGHT-PROVOKING SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK THEY WERE THE RETAIL OUTLETS OF THE PROFESSION OF PHILOSOPHY

The author's name and title of the quote: STEPHENSONCRYPTONOMICON

The defined words: A. SYLLOGISM; B. THEWORKS; C. ERIKSATIE; D. PIEFIGHT; E. HALFWIT; F. EXHUSBAND; G. NETHERWORLD; H. SHOWERS; I. OPERAHAT; J. NIGHTINGALE; K. CHAPTERS, L. REMOTE; M. YEARBOOK; N. PITHY; O. TERSE; P. OVERFISHED; Q. NEXUS; R. OTTOMAN; S. MOOSEJAW; T. IDEATE; U. COLDFEET; V. OPTIMIST; W. NATIVESON.

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.20.08

Across the Board

Sunday, July 20, 2008

ACROSS THE BOARD, Puzzle by Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz

KNIGHT, KING, ROOK, PAWN, BISHOP, QUEEN and CHESS are to be found in the circles of the across entries of GUYFAWKESNIGHT (22. November 5, in Britain); ROCKYMOUNTAINBIGHORN (29. Wild sheep of the western United States); SIRANTHONYHOPKINS (44. Best Actor of 1991); PROFESSIONALWRESTLING (59. It’s quite different from the high-school variety); PUBLISHINGCOMPANY (77. Viking, for one); QUARTERMASTERGENERAL (91. Army supply officer); and CHINESEMUSTARD (102. Egg roll topping, perhaps).

Checkmate!

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For the complete post, go HERE.

07.19.08

You Can't Win 'Em All!

Napoleon at Waterloo by Howard David Johnson
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Saturday, July 19, 2008

Puzzle by Todd McClary, edited by Will Shortz

How many times has a solver snapped a writing instrument in half, ripped the puzzle from its moorings, crumpled it into a ball, declaiming YOUCANTWINEMALL (8D. Words of consolation), having METONESWATERLOO (36A. Suffered defeat). Well, these two entries share their W in the center of the attractive spinning windmill grid, and let’s just call that W a win!

A few links: MSPACMAN (36A. Arcade star of the ‘80s) and CANAANITE (56A. Language group including Hebrew); TSTOPS (24D. Braking maneuvers for skaters); NAST (52D. Creator of 1867’s “Grand Caricaturama”); MARTHA (31D. First name in homemaking hints); GARGANTUA (17A. Hero/giant created by Rabelais); UNA (19A. Merkel of moviedom); MAGOG (35A. Grandson of Noah); TRUMAN (51A. Marshall Plan signer); 45D. Joe RANDA, ex-Royals third baseman known as the Joker; BALDEAGLE (11D. Quarter image); BIKINITOP (14A. Cause of some tan lines), OLDSMOKEY (60A. Snowy locale of song); OPENFLOOR (12D. Debate format); STRATEGO (13D. Game with 40 pieces per side); ATTAR (7D. Rosa damascena product); GOBOS (9A. Recording studio sound shields); MENSA (54A. Its logo features a globe on a table); OXEYE (49D. Common daisy); and WIND (Make tired).

Waterloo? -- able was I ere I saw Elba!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

07.18.08

TMI

Friday, July 18, 2008

Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz

Lots of gnarly, twisty unclear (not to be confused with nuclear) entries and clues in this Friday crossword, some seemingly interrelated, tried to give me a meltdown, but my core held up -- I‘ll now need a doctor‘s note to get through security.

Two full-across entries have crossword company -- MUCHTOMYCHAGRIN (56A. “Unfortunately …”) lies above SAIDNOTO (60A. Denied) and SNAPSAT (62A. Replies to irritably); CIRCADIANRHYTHM (17A. It helps you sleep at night) is directly over JETLAG (20A. 17-Across disrupter).

The long entries going down seem to describe an actor in a role -- KEVINBACON (27D. “Diner” co-star, 1982), GAYFRIENDLY (10D. Inclusive, as some resorts), ENTRYLEVEL (11D. Like many low-paying jobs), FIREMARSHAL (22D. Person with a burning resentment).

Some linkage -- WALLET (45A. Presidential portrait site?); IXIA (2D. Showy flower of the iris family); TRAJAN (5D. Emperor before Hadrian); NAPSTER (18D. Onetime foe of the recording industry); 25A. String BIKINI; MONISM (51A. Belief that all things are made of a single substance); 23A. Antoinette after whom the Tony Awards are named); 31D. Some dolls can do it, NEST; 38A. Chorus “instrument” in Verdi’s “Il Trovatore”, ANVIL; 42A. Like some ‘39 New York World’s Fair buildings; 53A. Redwood National Park sight; 48D. Biotite and lepidolite; 53D. Offspring of Chaos, to Hesiod; and link-lessly -- 58D. Econ. Class topic (GNP -- certainly not GOP with a zero in the subject).

"Too much information" -- that’s that other TMI!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.