11.30.08

Uh-Oh!

“Uh-Oh” -- Minami-ke Okawari

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Sunday, November 30, 2008

UH-OH, Puzzle by Richard Silvestri, edited by Will Shortz

Substituting the sound of “oh” for that of “uh” is this Sunday crossword’s playfulness, resulting in the following entries: THERES THE ROBE (29A. Helpful comment to a judge?); PEACH FOES (47A. Fruit flies?); LOAM AND ABNER (62A. Dirty radio sitcom?); ARE WE HAVING PHONE YET (67A. Jokey question to a Verizon technician?); PERSIAN ROGUE (82A. Darius the Scamp?); FRIAR TOKE (88A. Pot-smoking cleric?); PAIN IN THE BOAT (105A. Result of excessive rowing?), reminding me of a faux pas, as with Japanese phonology, for a pain in the…!

Uh-Oh!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.29.08

Symmetry

Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci.

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Saturday, November 29, 2008

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz

A dozen ten-letter entries in sets of three each with a tag-along nine-letter entry in the four corners constitutes the bulk of this Saturday crossword, graced by a very friendly center allowing pleasant passage from one set to the other in a crossword of beautiful symmetry!

Upper left across -- LITMUS TEST; OCEAN LINER; CONSCIENCE; INTERPRET -- with downs of LOCI; ICON; TENT; MASER; UNCROSS; SLIPON; TIER; ENNE; SECTS; TRE.

Upper right down -- ABDICATOR; REEXAMINED; PACESETTER; STORM DOORS -- with acrosses ARPS; BEAT; DECO; SIXER; SARCASM; ROAMED; TITO; ONTO; GREER; DRS.

Lower left down -- MADAGASCAR; AM I TO BLAME; NECTARINES; SENTIMENT -- with acrosses MAN; Elvis’s “A MESS of Blues“; DICE; ATTN; GOATEE; ABRIDGE; SLIMY; CANE; AMEN; REST.

Lower right across -- MINESHAFT; ACCESSIBLE; BEER COOLER; SELDOM SEEN -- with downs ABS; EMCEE; ICEL; NERD; ENESCO; GRISSOM; CHIOS; ABLE; FLEE; TERN.

The center of the crossword contains seven across entries: ROO, SNAP, RIOT, DIZZY, RAZZ, AYER and NIC. The center entries down: SRO, ARTY, ARIA, PIZZA, OZZY, DREG and EDY (43. Last name in ice cream) -- no “s” today for Edy’s!

Save the “s” for Silk, Shortz and symmetry!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.28.08

Leftovers

Friday, November 28, 2008

Puzzle by Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

Ten 15-letter entries are the main dish of this Friday crossword:

SHIVER ME TIMBERS (16A. Cry on a corsair); CREATIVE LICENSE (22A. Something exercised by artists); THE COST OF LIVING (34A. It’s high in Manhattan); PENTATONIC SCALE (44A. Music theory subject); STING OPERATIONS (52A. Plans to nail suspects); CRIME PREVENTION (2D. Goal of a neighborhood watch); SERVICE STATIONS (5D. Island locales); THERES NO I IN TEAM (6D. Coaching cliché); CRITICAL ACCLAIM (8D. Great all-around reviews); DOESNT GIVE A HOOT (10D. Is totally apathetic).

All those long entries result in a dozen mid-size bland entries, the usual leftovers, and scraps.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.27.08

ANAGRAM/A RAGMAN

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz

Recycling? Seven entries with half of the squares containing circles to emphasize that the last half of the entry is the first half anagrammed constitute the interrelated entries of this Thursday crossword puzzle. The dead-tree copy provides shaded squares rather than circles for the second half of each entry.

STUCK ONE/SNECK OUT (7D. Took a risk with recycling) requires 16 letters, consequently enlarging the standard vertical dimension of the grid. A better fit is had by INTES/TINES (3D. Digestive system parts with recycling?); BEST/BETS (5D. Most promising options with recycling?); REAP/PEAR (10D. Come back with recycling?); HORSE/SHOER (33D. Livery blacksmith with recycling?); LEGA/L AGE (41D. Imposition on drinking with recycling?); TEAM/MATE (43D. Sporting colleague with recycling?).

A few links: ASIA MINOR (61A. Location of two of the classical Seven Wonders); BRAHE (52A. Contemporary of Kepler); CUPID (25A. He brings people together); LAURA (2D. 1944 film noir by Preminger); ANNA.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.26.08

Ode to Ye Ole OLE!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Puzzle by Harvey Estes, edited by Will Shortz

The omnipresent crossword entry of OLE (57D. 49-Across, in this puzzle); along with THE LAST HURRAH (49A. 1968 Spencer Tracy film … and a hint to 20-, 30- and 39-Across); HOLY GUACAMOLE (20A. “Zounds!”); PETER OTOOLE (30A. Eight-time Best Actor nominee); FILET OF SOLE (39A. Boneless entrée) are the unlikely components of today’s interrelated entries. OLE is not something one hears in the Spencer Tracy film, nor would one expect to hear Peter O’Toole declaim same after losing out on the Academy Award eight times, and it would certainly be an odd thing to declare when one is served fish -- but it is the last three letters of those entries. “Zounds!” may be the closest to “Ole!” but without a “Hurrah!” and the resulting “Holy Guacamole!” brings one to wonder why an exclamation involving an avocado recipe is paired with the blaspheming of God‘s wounds!

Links: MANDELA (23A. “Long Walk to Freedom” writer) and WALESA (44D. Non-head of state who addressed a 1989 joint session of Congress); SIBYL (5D. Prophetess of legend); BLOODRED (4D. Vivid valentine color); TAPWATER (41A. Meaning of "one on the city," in diner lingo); GUIDE (47D. Sacagawea, for one); FALA and FEAR, LAMB and LEER and “Zip ADEE-Doo-Dah“!

Here's to that crossword star -- OLE!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.25.08

Vowel Movement

Double Eagle Anagrams, c.1890 McLoughlin Bros., NY, NY

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Puzzle by Caleb Madison, edited by Will Shortz

With the exchange of vowels between two words, anagram adjective-noun combinations of PENAL PANEL (17A. Trial jury?); CELLAR CALLER (23A. Wine telemarketer?); TEXAS TAXES (30A. Lone Star State duties?); CONAN CANON (40A. Late-night talk show host’s principles?); TIC TAC TACTIC (49A. Slyly popping a breath mint, e.g.?); DAVIS DIVAS (61A. Sammy’s backup singers?) are the interrelated entries of this Tuesday crossword. Nice!

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For today's cartoon go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.24.08

The Hand

Study of a Hand -- Leonardo da Vinci

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Monday, November 24, 2008

Puzzle by Billie Truitt, edited by Will Shortz

GREENTHUMB (17A. Gardener’s gift); MISERYINDEX (24A. Measure of national economic health); MEETINGINTHEMIDDLE (39A. Come to a compromise); GIVEMEARING (51A. “Call sometime”); HINKYPINKY (64A. Rhyming word game) are the interrelated entries of this Monday back-to-work crossword puzzle.

Links for the remainders: GOATEES (49A. Chin beards); LAMARR (7D. Hedy of “Samson and Delilah”); TRITON (18D. Spiral seashell); GARBO (51D. Reclusive actress Greta); EDIE (36D. Actress Falco).

This one deserves a big hand!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.23.08

Picture This

Le Bateau, Henri Matisse, 1953, as displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in 1961
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Sunday, November 23, 2008

PICTURE THIS, Puzzle by David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz

LEBATEAU (25A. Title of a work by 23-Across), WATERMEDIA (46D Styles of 25-Across and the like), PAINTING (120A. 25-Across, e.g.), HENRIMATISSE (23A. Leader of the Fauvist movement), FRENCHARTIST (122A. 23-Across, e.g.), UPSIDEDOWN (41D. How 25-Across appeared at a 6-Down in 1961), MOMAEXHIBITION (6D. N.Y.C. cultural event); MFAS (116D. Some 6-Down curators: Abbr.), FORTYSEVENDAYS (55D. How long 25-Across was 41-Down before being noticed and fixed).

Note (Appearing in print): "When this puzzle is done, read the circled letters clockwise starting with the last letter of 66-Across; and read the shaded letters clockwise starting with the second letter of 77-Across"; e.g., a SAILBOAT REFLECTION. The circles, if connected, give a rough visual of Le Bateau itself.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.23.08 -- the Acrostic

杂碎

Sunday, November 23, 2008

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

A synopsis on the Barnes & Noble site for “Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food” by Jennifer 8 Lee, the source of today’s quotation, reads “If you think McDonald's is the most ubiquitous restaurant experience in America, consider that there are more Chinese restaurants in America than McDonalds, Burger Kings, and Wendys combined. New York Times reporter and Chinese-American (or American-born Chinese). In her search, Jennifer 8 Lee traces the history of Chinese-American experience through the lens of the food. In a compelling blend of sociology and history, Jenny Lee exposes the indentured servitude Chinese restaurants expect from illegal immigrant chefs, investigates the relationship between Jews and Chinese food, and weaves a personal narrative about her own relationship with Chinese food. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles speaks to the immigrant experience as a whole, and the way it has shaped our country.”

The quotation: CHOP SUEY IS THE GREATEST CULINARY PRANK ONE CULTURE HAS EVER PLAYED ON ANOTHER EVEN ITS NAME IS AN INSIDE JOKE WHAT AMERICANS ONCE BELIEVED TO BE THE NATIONAL DISH OF CHINA TRANSLATES TO ODDS AND ENDS IN CANTONESE

The author’s name and the title of the work: LEE FORTUNE COOKIE CHRONICLES

The defined words: LITCHI; ENJOY; ELEVATED; FROST; ORIENT; REEDY; TENS; USAINBOLT; NATURE; EASYASPIE; CHOPSTICKS; OVERDOIT; OATES; KNEADED; INNOCENT; EMPATH; CUMBIA; HAVANA; RAWDEAL; ODEON; NONSENSE; ISLAND; CHEERS; LUTHERAN; ETHNIC; SHENANIGANS.

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.22.08

Hot Tips and Hairs

Surface of a human hair. 20μm scan size. Enhanced topographic view.

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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Puzzle by Frank Longo, edited by Will Shortz

Eight fifteen-letter across entries are the main feature of this Saturday crossword, which should please those who take special pleasure in offbeat diagrams with sparse black squares; in this case, dividing the puzzle into three sections with a matching top and bottom and a clever middle crossing of INTERLUDE (34A. Dramatic break) and INERTIA (23D. Torpor). One must effectively solve each of the three sections independently. The 15-letter entries:

COMPAREDAGAINST (1. Vis-à-vis);

ATOOTHFORATOOTH (16. Age-old retaliation);

TRUETOTHELETTER (17. Having no inaccuracy whatsoever);

SOLVETHEPROBLEM (31. Fix things);

IMMEDIATEDANGER (35. A firefighter at work may be in it);

AMERICANTABLOID (51. James Ellroy novel that Time magazine named best fiction book of 1995);

GENERALAUDIENCE (57. Suitable for all); and

SETSONAPEDESTAL (58. Idolizes).

A few links: BOTNETS; Italian port with ruins of an imposing Aragonese castle; Longtime Arizona congressman who ran for president in 1976; People who deal with stress successfully?; Bog youngster; Amenhotep IV’s god; Time for an emergency phone call?; Cobbler alternative; Writer whose novella “Carmen” is the basis of Bizet’s opera; Section of some bookstores; Anne Nichols title protagonist; Poky.

With its’ HOTTIPS (21D. They may break open cases) and HAIRS (21A. Crime scene evidence, often), this is the stuff that dreams are made of… a solver's delight!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.21.08

Surprise!

Jack in the Box -- ©Bruno Krippahl.
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Friday, November 21, 2008

Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz

Other than a few tough surprises, not a lot to say about this frightening T.G.I.F. crossword!

Links for the day: LIBERTYPOLE; PANTYGIRDLE; QUEENREGENT; SKYETERRIER; SPRINGOPEN (35A. What jack-in-the boxes do); NAGASAKI; DORMERS; OLYMPIA; ONASSIS; RAGMOP (15A. 1950 #1 hit for the Ames Brothers), R-A-G R-A-G-G M-O-P M-O-P-P.

That's everything! Wait! Here’s a jack-out-of-the-box!

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For today's cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.20.08

Show Me The Money!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Puzzle by Pete Muller, edited by Will Shortz

With today’s day-after-day headlines and constant decline of the economy, small comfort can be taken from today’s crossword with CAPITALISM (17A. Start of a quote by economist Allan Meltzer) WITHOUTFAILURE (23A. Quote, part 2) ISLIKERELIGION (47A. Quote, part 3) WITHOUTSIN (54A. End of the quote), along with assorted entries such as BEAR (59A. With 27-Across, it collapsed in 2008) STEARNS (27A. See 59-Across), ENRON (32D. 2005 documentary subtitled “The Smartest Guys in the Room”), TNOTE (64A. I.R.A. option), NAFTA (61A Pact since 1993), LEGAL (49D. Corporate department), GRUNT (50D. Menial worker) and the grim FUNERAL (43A. Occasion to say goodbye).

A few more links: RAELIAN (51A. One who believes humans descended from extraterrestrials), AKIRA (14A. Director Kurosawa), the KABUKI (29D. Tokyo theater performance); 47D. Pitcher Hideki IRABU; LIAO (45D. Chinese dynasty a thousand years ago); 57D. Cousin ITT of “The Addams Family); SHOALS (10D. Bars of a sort); LYRA (63A. Constellation between Cygnus and Hercules).

Show me the money!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.19.08

Mix-Up

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

Anagrams of the entries LEATHER (23A. Jacket material for a mixed-up North Carolina athlete?); WINELOVER (37A. Oenophile, as a mixed-up Michigan athlete?); RANPAST (56A. Flew by, as a mixed-up Michigan State athlete?); ARGOT (10D. Jargon from a mixed-up Florida athlete?); and RUBIN (55D. Apply to the skin, as on a mixed-up U.C.L.A. athlete?) will produce TARHEEL, WOLVERINE, SPARTAN, GATOR and BRUIN, basketball, football, basketball, football, basketball.

I suppose the recurring clue “mixed-up … athlete” should make it obvious as to the interrelationship of the five entries; however, to be quite frank, I didn’t give a tinker’s damn about this puzzle’s anagrams nor the resulting sports -- I watch baseball. Never heard of the Tarheels, vaguely the Wolverines and the Spartans, have heard of the Gators and Bruins, but come on!, couldn’t they all be from one sport? There’s really no pay-off here, no tip to the solver during the solve, only a gnarly angst at the end in attempting to decipher “what in tarnation was that mix-up all about?”

Links for some other stuff in the puzzle: ZACHARY (20A. Presidential first name); ONEACAT (41D. Classic batting game); ATEAT (4D. Really bugged); MAGEE (22D. Tony winner Patrick); RANCHO (5D. Where to find a vaquero); ELLA, EWA, IGER, LACI.

Speaking of anagrams -- 33A. ONA high and 48A. ANO (48A. What makes God good?) -- now that's a mix-up!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.18.08

Housing

Free Spirit Spheres by Tom Chudleigh

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Puzzle by Richard Chisholm, edited by Will Shortz

TWO HOUSES (59A. What 17-, 23-, 34-, 40- and 47-Across are each composed of) along ROAD BLOCK (17A. Police stop), SUMMER SCHOOL (23A. Remedy for failed courses, maybe), STATE BIRD (34A. Cardinal vis-à-vis Illinois, Indiana or Ohio), FIRE POWER (40A. Military capability) and DOLL CARRIAGE (47A. Wheeled toy), are the interrelated entries of today’s crossword.

For a real moving experience, check this SWAP (55D. Tit for tat … or tat for tit)!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.17.08

Looking For It!

"Rain Dance." Photo by Chris Oberholtz

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Monday, November 17, 2008

Puzzle by Paula Gamache, edited by Will Shortz

Four methods of getting "it" -- sue, beg, pray, ask -- constitute thread of the interrelated entries for this Monday back-to-work crossword -- SUE FOR DAMAGES (20A. Demand legal restitution after injury); BEG FOR MERCY (33A. Seek compassionate treatment); PRAY FOR RAIN (41A. What drought victims might do); ASK FOR TROUBLE (56A. Take unnecessary risks).

Whatever you need this week, best of luck in looking for it!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.16.08

Who? (The Simpsons!)

Orson Welles, Citizen Kane, 1941

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Sunday, November 16, 2008

SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY I KNOW, Puzzle by Merl Reagle, edited by Will Shortz

It’s Punday on Sunday again -- crosswords from The Times seem to gravitate to paronomasia! Here we are treated to eight grueling entries of homophonic equivoque upon the names of personages past and passé, clued with a justifying query.

However, this puzzle is much more complex -- a day-long activity culminating in a television program in the evening on the Fox network, resulting in the first time I ever watched a full episode of The Simpsons... it's true!

See notes at the end of this commentary.

17. MARISA PTOMAINE, “Loverboy” actress who made the cast sick?;

21. RAYMOND CHANNELER, Séance-loving crime writer?;

40. ARNOLD POLYMER, Hall of Fame golfer who invented the all-plastic club?;

53. RONA PARROT, All-telling gossip queen who repeats everything she hears?;

72. ERIK SETTEE, Avant-garde composer who sat around a lot?;

82. MONICA ZEALOUS, Passionate tennis star?;

105. NIKITA CRUISECHEF, Moscow V.I.P. who liked to cook on a ship?;

111. LINDSAY LOWHAND, “I have no face cards” actress?

Torturous and tedious as those entries and their clues may be, the remainder of the crossword is equally joyless and plodding in esoterica and minutiae -- that‘s just fine, puzzles should puzzle!

In addition to the across and down entries, the puzzle features one diagonal: 1. DUMB DAD SORRY FOR HIS BET -- for the clue, go HERE.

The cul-de-sac for this writer was MONICAZEALOUS with her crossings, especially ROSESLUG (which will now always come to mind when I do my imitation of Orson Welles’ death scene in Citizen Kane) -- this is one of those crosswords that just wasn’t my cup of TAZO!

Roseslug!

(This crossword puzzle is involved in the episode of “Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words” on The Simpsons, Fox, 8:00 pm, Sunday, November 16, 2008, today -- Lisa becomes an expert at solving crossword puzzles and enters a tournament, where Homer gets involved with an underground betting ring. Voices include crossword editor Will Shortz and crossword creator Merl Reagle as themselves. Read more HERE.)

NOTE: The first letter of the clues spell out DEAR LISAYOU MAKE ME SO HAPPY REALLY REALLY REALLY HAPPY SORRY HE TOLD ME I NEEDED A HUNDRED FORTY FOUR LETTERS WHAT WAS MY POINT AGAIN OH RIGHT BOUVIER OR SIMPSON I CHERISH YOU, the last line in the episode for which the crossword puzzle was constructed.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

11.15.08

Space Junk

Orbital Debris, NASA

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Saturday, November 15, 2008

Puzzle by Karen M. Tracey, edited by Will Shortz

For today's post, go HERE.

11.14.08

Objects in the Puzzle

Jurassic Park, 1993
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Friday, November 14, 2008

Puzzle by Brad Wilber, edited by Will Shortz

DORSALFIN (15A. Worrisome sight at a beach) trolls to mind the film “Jaws” with its elusive monster shark, and TAILGATER (55A. Menace in the mirror), "Jurassic Park", with the rear view mirror of a Jeep reflecting the image of a T-Rex underlined with the phrase “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear” -- it's on the wrong side of the vehicle -- the phrase appears only on the passenger side. Confusion aside, nothing is scarier than a COOPBOARD (17A. Screeners of would-be buyers) that nest of ILLHUMOR (12D. Sourness) as distant as a LAMASERY (34A. “Lost Horizon” setting) and as menacing as a TRAWLNET (14D. A sole might get caught in it).

Links: DISTICH (40D. Couplet); AEHOUSMAN; AMIN; ANGELA; DENIRO; LARUE; SEURAT; BERETTA; PECOS; STATE; LOO; and CAB and MAB.

Da doom, da doom… da doom, da doom!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.