Country General Store, Michael Matherly-----------------
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Puzzle by Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz
If one likes seeing the complete alphabet utilized in a crossword puzzle then today’s should be quite satisfactory with its octet of FOMENT (44D. Stir up); GROCERY (24D. Checkers’ place); INDEXER (17A. Librarian, at times); JAMB (10D. Threshold adjoiner); PLOW (49A. It turns up in a field); QUASI (30A. Seeming); STEVE (48D. Jobs in technology?); and WHIZKID (1A. Westinghouse/Intel award winner). I guess with the opening of school this week, the ABC’s are in vogue; and although the definition of pangram is an incorrect one for a crossword puzzle, the entire alphabet is represented. The term can only be properly applied to a sentence. So, if you're up to the challenge of turning the aforementioned octet into a sentence, have at it! Double-letter entries -- HURRYUP (26D. Shout to a 25-Across); KIXX (D. Aptly named Philadelphia indoor soccer team); OOHED (31. Marveled aloud); OOCYTE (41D. An egg develops from it); QUAALUDE (34D. It’s a downer); RUFFS (42A. Plays a trump card); SANTAANA (12D. Orange County seat); TOCCATA (51A. Improvisatory composition); UNZIPPED (35D. Open, as a jacket); ZEE (4D. One of a jazz duo?). HURRYUP is a shout to a SNAIL (25A. Sluggard). OOCYTE and OVI (41A. Egg head?) share their initial O, and more. Ice appears twice, crossing itself with HOMEICE (15A. Place for a skating edge) and ICERS (6D. Some players in penalty boxes). A few more links: ARAPAHO (16A. Fox’s cousin); EDOMITE (60A. Ancient Negev dweller); EVILONE (59A. Satan, with “the”); QUACKED (34A. Sounded like a bufflehead); YOSEMITE (14D. Half Dome’s home); MAGLIE (8D. Losing pitcher in the 1956 World Series perfect game); HEL (32D. Daughter of Loki).
At the grocery, Steve, a whizkid and indexer, did a quasi foment to the jamb with a plow.
-----------------
For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
