12.31.08

http:www.net.com.edu.gov

Visualization of the Internet.

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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Puzzle by Tim Wescott, edited by Will Shortz

The internet address letters HTTP, NET, COM, EDU and GOV are found within the 15-letter entries of:

HAVEABONETOPICK (17A. Feel like quarreling about something);

TOTALCOMMITMENT (23A. No halfway effort);

TRUMPEDUPCHARGE (49A. Basis of a false arrest, perhaps);

PLAYINGOVERTIME (61A. Going past the fourth quarter, say).

WWW (40A. Letters after two slashes) is in the dead center of this final crossword puzzle of the year of 2008, which is reviewed in cartoons, along with 2009 -- click HERE.

All the internet address letters are in circles in the electronic version, while in the newspaper, HTTP is in shaded squares, the WWW in unshaded, and the remainder contained in circled squares within the four 15-letter entries. The newspaper version, with the aforementioned variation in squares, gives the interrelated entries clarity and looks great.

Happy New Year!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.30.08

I, II, III...

George III in Coronation Robes, Allan Ramsay, 1762

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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Puzzle by Doug Peterson, edited by Will Shortz

FATHERS AND SONS (52A. Ivan Turgenev novel … and a hint to 20-, 31- and 40-Across); SENIOR DISCOUNT (20A. Incentive aimed at golden agers); JUNIOR MINTS (31A. Chocolate-coated candy); THE THIRD MAN (40A. 1949 Orson Welles film) are this Tuesday puzzle’s interrelated entries, leaving one with the image of a elderly gent at the movies with a box of candy and the Turgenev novel in the event of a need for reading material. Or perhaps that of the 41st and 43rd Presidents of our United States -- and, oh dear world, is there a third? -- I WONDER (42D. “Hmmm … “).

The 41st and 43rd presidents of the United States.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.29.08

RUN

Jesse Owens, photograph in "Die Olympischen Spiele, 1936"

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Monday, December 29, 2008

Puzzle by Kevin Donovan, edited by Will Shortz

RUN (54D. Something 18-, 26-, 42- or 51-Across might have), RUMMY HAND (18A. It might include a 10-, jack, queen and king of hearts), BASEBALL GAME (26A. Yankees/Red Sox matchup, e.g.); BROADWAY PLAY (42A. Candidate for a Tony) and PANTYHOSE (51A. L’eggs product) are the interrelated entries of this mid-season Monday crossword.

HIE (52D. Hightail it, old-style) leads off the rundown of today's links -- BART (42D. TV character who says “Don’t have a cow, man!”); CLARA (6A. Barton who founded the American Red Cross); 23A. “Pulp Fiction” co-star SAMUEL L. Jackson; UHURA (48A. “Star Trek” lieutenant); ASIAN (24D. Like half of Istanbul); EIDER (58A. Duck that’ll get you down?); 22A. TUTTI-frutti; COT (39D. Barracks bed); ILO (3D. U.N. agcy. Awarded the 1969 Nobel Peace Prize).

S‘long, gotta verb-not-noun run!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.28.08

Going Around in Circles



Sunday, December 28, 2008

GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES, Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz

ORBITS

, and its clue -- 7A. What this puzzle’s eight concentric rings (uncircled and circled) represent -- is the simple explanation for a very complex-looking layout. Is it worth it? Well, it really depends upon one’s propensity for amusement with the impossibility of square orbits comprised of all those circles (electronic version) or shaded squares (dead-tree version), uh, well, perhaps a square orbit is just fine… the world was once flat!

Actually, this is a rather flat crossword for a solver, best worked with total disregard for its gimmick -- those circles (or shaded squares) are of little help in the solution and exist but to define the orbit of a

PLANET (124A. One of these can be found reading counterclockwise somewhere in each concentric ring). SUN

(70A. Appropriate center for this puzzle) is as is stated the center entry of the crossword, incongruously crossed by GOUDA (60D. Semisoft cheese from Holland).

After one has completed the crossword, there is the task of finding a planet "in each concentric ring” -- innermost to outermost in order. Curiosity alone and duty to blog caused me to ferret out each and every one with less and less amusement upon each revelation. I see no reason to list the planets -- that very well could alienate any reader who has at least mastered the likes of say, the alphabet.
ASK FOR THE MOON (5D. Make impossible demands) provides a satellite entry next to our planet, and very close to MERCURY. Oh, damn, there I did it -- well, it’s too late now -- VENUS, EARTH, MARS, JUPITER, SATURN, URANUS and NEPTUNE. Wait!, there’s PLUTO bent out of shape in the lower left corner inside Neptune’s orbit, which, in fact, happens in the life-size version of the solar system

.

The bulk of the entries are slaves to the gimmick, but some are from another… uh, planet.

All in all, this is a crossword with many twists and turns, bright spots and black holes, but it makes it into orbit and out of this world -- it may take a while, but after all, getting there is half the fun!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.27.08

Saharan Saturday

Sahara Dunes, Photo by Carsten Peter, National Georgraphic

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Saturday, December 27, 2008

Puzzle by Karen M. Tracey, edited by Will Shortz

Clue-wise, this is a Saharan crossword puzzle!

A dozen 10-letter entries are the main feature -- ADIOS AMIGO; BOTTOM LINE; DONKEY KONG; INHIBITION; I SUSPECT SO; JACK HORNER; LATIN LOVER; OBSESSIONS; PAAVO NURMI; PRIVILEGES; TIME FACTOR; TREBLE CLEF.

Mid-size entries -- ANTOINE; BOOKREST; EYESTALK; GENTIAN; GLISTENS; SAHARAN; SISTINE; SONOGRAM.

Five-letter -- AFORE; ALOES; ANGER; ASPEN; ATARI; PANDA; POBOX (58A. Letter getter); REESE; TAINT; TENPM.

Four-letter -- ADEE, ALSO, ANON, ARES, BOSN, DEAN, DESK, EGOS, ENZO, ETES and ETTU, FEES, HOAR, IONA and IONE, JABS, LADY, MINI, MTGE, NAIR, NEHI, NOUN, NSEC, ONZE, OMOO, PAID, PROM, REOS, RIOT, ROXY, SNOG, TBAR, VIBE, WHIP, and WISP, YENS (60D. Pines), a suitable clue for YEWS.

No breeze today!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.26.08

XOXOXOXO

Titania,1897 -- Frederick Howard Michael
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Friday, December 25, 2008

Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz

This Friday crossword features non-words and/or multiple consonants -- XOXOXOXO; XIII; XAMOUNT; TSTRAP; TVCAMERA; ETSEQ, along with a good dose of double-wording -- CRATEUP; FITIN; KEPTIN; NEXTUP; ONEINTEN; ONEUP; SAIDIDO; SETOFFS.

Links: BALOO (30D. “The Jungle Book” bear); why is TITANIA (62A. Uranus’s largest moon) no longer clued via Shakespeare? DREAM (33A. It’s unreal); MAUNAKEA (39D. Literally, “white mountain”); PARAMUS (55A. New Jersey shopping mall); JOUSTS (44D. Old tournament events); HORUS

(9D. Falcon-headed god).

FINITO (46D. Done, slangily).

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.25.08

AAUGH!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Puzzle by Eric Tentarelli, edited by Will Shortz

Three 15-letter entries utilizing the names of nine National Football League teams for three questionable clues are the main feature of this crossword -- BROWN BRONCO COLT (20A. Chestnut-colored mustang offspring?); CHIEF TEXAN SAINT (38A. Main dedicatee of an Austin cathedral?); GIANT COWBOY BILL (55A. Hefty invoice for boots and spurs?).

Four links for today -- AGNEW, ALBEDO, ARNE and AUTOBAHN.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.24.08

PLUGS

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Puzzle by Warren Biro, edited by Will Shortz

PLUGS (40A. Power connectors or a way to describe 17-, 22-, 55-, and 61-Across); TV ADVERTISEMENT (17A. Show interrupter); TOBACCO CHEW (22A. Copenhagen wad); BATH STOPPER (55A. Old-fashioned tub feature); HAIR REPLACEMENT (61A. Expensive alternative to a toupee) are the interrelated entries of this Wednesday crossword.

A few more links: PERSONAE (58A. Play characters); AVATARS (27A. Images representing Internet users); EDSEL (43A. Dearborn debut of 1958); LEIGH (8d. Vivien of film); NDAK (71A. State whose tallest bldg. has only 19 floors), but with the tallest man-made structure, THIS, until THIS -- and just for Christmas -- TSK (65A. “’Tis a pity”).

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.23.08

Classic

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Puzzle by Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

Fantastic!

What to say? Quibble, I’ll not!

Well, except to say I didn’t see the overall picture until the solution was complete, so I sort of picked and puzzled at it -- "coming to" late, utilizing the gimmick only as a help in solving with AMO and DIM (matching OMA and MID) -- I had OSA and DIS. Additionally, EDILE and NIM (matching ELIDE and MIN), I had never heard of either, so the reverse entries dictated the vowel needed. I grumbled throughout, scowling frequently at the fragmentation and only noticed one reverse in the process, NOV and VON. I think a more leisurely solve would have made the experience a really great one!

This crossword is a classic!!!

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12.22.08

Hop To It!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz

HOP TO IT (38A. “Get going!,” and a hint for the starts of 17-, 24-, 51- and 62-Across), along with RABBIT RUN (17A. First in a John Updike novel series), CRICKET PLAYER (24A. Batsman at a wicket, say), KANGAROO COURT (51A. Holder of an unfair trial) and TOADSTOOL (62A. Umbrellalike fungus) are the interrelated entries of this Monday back-to-work short-work-week crossword.

Hop to it!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.21.08

Laughing All the Way

Sunday, December 21, 2008

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY, Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz

I happily refer you to The Crossword Blog of The New York Times for Jim Horne’s assessment of today’s delightful crossword in season, including an interview with Elizabeth C. Gorski -- HERE.

Down the chimney! -- HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO (10D. Greeting from 74-Down); JOLLY ST NICK (74D. December 25 answer to 69-Across?); LOOK WHO’S HERE (69A. Cry when a surprise guest arrives); KRIS KRINGLE (3D. December 25 answer to 69-Across?); SANTA BABY (17D. Song whose subject is encouraged to “hurry down the chimney tonight”); 84D. Father CHRISTMAS; and HOUSE (131A. Landing spot for 74-Down) are the cheerfully interrelated entries of this Sunday crossword -- Ho, ho, ho, indeed!

Merry Christmas!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.21.08 -- the Acrostic

Blank

Snow Storm - Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth, 1842 -- J. M. W. Turner
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Sunday, December 21, 2008

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

I’ll be brief.

The quotation: IT IS SURPRISING THAT THE IMPRESSIONISTS NEVER BECAME INVOLVED IN THE CHRISTMAS CARD MOVEMENT THEY REMAINED IN A CULTURAL BACKWATER DEVOTING THEIR ENERGIES TOWARD A FORM OF CARD KNOWN AS BLANK FOR SPECIAL MESSAGES

The author’s name and the title of the work: PRITCHETT DOGGER BANK SAGA

The defined words: A. PEEVISH; B. RICE BOWL; C. INTERIM; D. TRIATHLON; E. CACHET; F. HEMLOCK; G. ENTHUSIASM; H. TAMARIND; I. TRANSISTOR; J. DAVIS CUP; K. OVERTIME; L. GO STEADY; M. GRAPEVINE; N. ESCROW; O. REMINDER; P. BEETLE; Q. AIR SHAFT; R. NUMBNESS; S. KNICKERS; T. STANFORD; U. ASWAN DAM; V. GOLFING; W. ASSERTIVE.

Link to Dogger Bank of the North Sea, HERE.

That’s it for this greeting!

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.20.08

Holoalphabetic

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Puzzle by Brad Wilber, edited by Will Shortz

Yes, this Saturday puzzle has all the letters of the alphabet -- so what? A holoalphabetic crossword without an ulterior purpose is like a can of Campbell’s alphabet soup (“oh, let me see if they are all there…”). What it is not is a “pangram” -- an overused misnomer of crossword bloggers. A pangram is a sentence that uses every letter of the alphabet. A holoalphabetic crossword allows the construction of a pangram, e.g., “In PALAZZO PANTS, FELIX, the SLOB with MOJO, thawed an OVENPROOF ANTIQUE from OMSK so FRIGID his SCHWA was lost in Canada.” Pangrams? -- HERE. That said, onward!

I’d never heard of PALAZZO PANTS (7D. Woman’s loose-fitting garment with flared legs) which translates to palace trousers -- what? NETFLIX QUEUE (21D. It has things you want to see) is another unfamiliar entry -- let’s look that up, HERE.

Other links -- AGNES GREY (20A. Brontë classic); MOGADISHU (52A. World capital long beset by civil unrest); OENOLOGY (58A. Science concerned with aging); AMADEUS (41D. Broadway play with the role of Emperor Joseph II) and/or the film; THE FRUG (26A. 1960s dance showcased on “Laugh-in”); ORALES (57A. Papal capes); MORAY (2D. Reef predator); SCHWA (40A. One of two in Canada?); ALFA (55D. Soviet sub class); 39A. “LIDA Rose” (song from “The Music Man”); OMSK (31D. Trans-Siberian Railroad stop); ROME (4D. Capitoline Museums locale); 46A. XBOX 360; MOE (43D. Bart Simpson’s prank call victim); NYE (22A. Frequent ad-libber on “The Steve Allen Show”).

Unless you love the alphabet, don’t go HERE!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.19.08

Ado, Adieu!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Puzzle by Natan Last, edited by Will Shortz

With a few good seldom-seen entries and many a misleading clue, this Friday fodder for the fanatical, crossword critics, pundits and professors, will likely elicit many a lengthy discourse upon its duplicity, familiarity and/or freshness, et cetera, so I will abstain -- after all, there is such a thing as too much of much ado about nothing.

AZERBAIJANI (49A. Russian’s neighbor) leads off the long entries which include BIRDBRAIN (1A. Ding-dong); DIDGERIDOO (58A. Wind instrument Down Under); GUITARHERO (17A. Hit video game series launched in 2005); IMAREALBOY (14A. Exuberant cry from Pinocchio); INUNDATION (55A. Flood); REITERATING (20A. Hammering away at); SEESSTARS (60A. Reacts to a big buffet); XRATEDMOVIE (10D. Work with raw material?).

A few more links: OCCULT (45A. Alternative bookstore section); POOR (52D. Description of 15-Down) YORICK (115D. Of whom Hamlet said “He hath borne me on his back a thousand times”); 28D. “AMATE should keep himself to himself”: “Treasure Island”; JUDE (50D. Law with many parts).

With no further ado, I bid adieu!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.18.08

I Won't Tell A Soul!

Peter Lorre and John Gielgud in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Secret Agent“, 1936

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Puzzle by Michael Vuolo, edited by Will Shortz In today’s crossword an UNDERCOVER AGENT, SWORN TO SECRECY, is said to say IF I TOLD YOU THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU!

Links of the day -- OFFKEY (48D. Out of tune); LAMP (56A. Djinn’s home in a popular tale); HIS Majesty (33A.) VIII (23A. The last King Edward of England); SHEIK (32A. Title role for Valentino); LSD, ENVOI (18D. Poetic coda). That's all!

I won‘t tell a soul!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.17.08

Mnemonic

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Puzzle by John Farmer, edited by Will Shortz

NOTES (65A. Staff members, and what the circled letters in this puzzle represent) results in E, G, B, D and F along with the mnemonic phrase, “EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE” contained in the first words of the otherwise unrelated across entries of EVERY SO OFTEN (19. On occasion); GOOD OLD DAYS (27. Yesteryear nostalgically); BOY SCOUTS (35. Order of the Arrow members); DOES WONDERS (46. Makes something better in a big way); FINE AND DANDY (54. Ducky).

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.16.08

0101010101...

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Puzzle by Gail Grabowski, edited by Will Shortz

COMPUTER COMPANY (64A. What the ends of 17-, 27- and 48-Across represent), FARMER IN THE DELL (17. Kindergarten tune, with “The”), GARDEN GATEWAY (27. Entrance to a botanical display) and POISONED APPLE (48. Gift that almost killed Snow White) are the interrelated entries of this Tuesday crossword.

A few more links: BAD PRESS (10D. Unwanted publicity); ARMADA (4D. Military flotilla); NSYNC (42A. “Bye Bye Bye” boy band); SNERT (44D. Hägar the Horrible’s hound); YWCA; USE.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.15.08

Monday Menu

Jack London is believed to be the young man in the group on the right, second from left, August 1897.

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Monday, December 15, 2008

Puzzle by Susan Gelfand, edited by Will Shortz

Four authors whose last names serve as part of food items along with their first names as part of the clues constitute this Monday back-to-work crossword puzzle’s interrelated entries -- POUND CAKES (18A. Poet Ezra’s favorite desserts?); LAMB SHANKS (62A. Essayist Charles’s favorite entrée?); RICE PUDDING (4D. Writer Anne’s favorite dessert?); LONDON BROIL (27D. Writer Jack’s favorite entrée?).

Who gets the Parker rolls?

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.14.08

Name That Phrase...

St. Eligius in his goldsmith workshop, Petrus Christus, 1449

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Sunday, December 14, 2008

NAME THAT PHRASE, Puzzle by Trip Payne, edited by Will Shortz

Acronyms of twelve phrases are the wan feature of this Sunday plodder -- RITA, VIC, LES, MAE, THOM, ALAN, PETE, CAL, TED, OTIS, LIAM and NAN for, respectively -- ROLLING IN THE AISLES (25A. Like Rudner’s audiences after a good joke?); VANILLA ICE CREAM (33A. Treat for Damone); LOWER EAST SIDE (52A. Where Paul stays when performing in New York?); MAKES AN ENTRANCE (69A. Comes in dramatically, like West?); THE HOUSE OF MIRTH (95A. McAn’s favorite novel?); AS LIKELY AS NOT (106A. Odds of Alda winning an Oscar?); PLACING END TO END (129A. Putting in a row, like Sampras’s rackets?); CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT (139A. Court case where Ripken is one of many plaintiffs?); THE EVIL DEAD (3D. Horror film enjoyed by Turner?); OF THEE I SING (12D. Musical that inspired Redding?); LOVE IN A MIST (87D. Flower typically given to Neeson?); NECK AND NECK (92D. How Goldin and her rivals finish in photography competition?).

Of virtually no use to the solver, the gimmick is merely an overwrought afterthought to the puzzle -- something The Times crossword authors have been hawking a lot of lately. The result is an empty so-what at the end of the solve, and the gimmick just gets in the way of solving. Not once throughout the entire puzzle was I able to recognize the inclusion of initialism (or alphabetism) in the construction -- the clues seem ludicrous and unrelated. Of course, at the end, one does look back and see that they make sense -- but to what end?

The plodding clues continue throughout the puzzle, especially in the lower third from ELOI (115A. Patron saint of goldsmiths) to the bitter finish, with the majority of the entries throughout the puzzle being particularly small and numerous, resulting in exhausting fragmentation and mind-numbing tedium.

As St. Eligius (aka Eloi) might remark -- "Pure pyrite!"

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

12.13.08

Trivia

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Puzzle by Frank Long, edited by Will Shortz

TRIVIA BUFFS (22D. Many quiz show fans) should do well with today’s crossword which features five fifteen-letter entries across -- ACCRUED INTEREST; PATRIOT MISSILES; ELECTRIC SHAVERS; NATIONAL HOLIDAY and STATEMENT OF FACT, which are joined by three more eleven-letter entries -- EARPIERCING and RADIO SOURCE, along with TORPEDO BOAT.

Links across: 1. Like icing; 8. Alternative to Best Buy or Circuit City; 20. Tony’s portrayer on “NYPD Blue”; 21. Bloomingdale’s rival; 40. Fort Worth’s AMON Carter Museum; 42. Jack; 48. Really tough task; 59. Explosive measure; 62. Killer of Greedo in a sci-fi film.

Links downs: 3. Biker’s wear; 9. The planets, e.g.; 12. “UNE Grosse Légume” (Orson Welles novel); 18. Nigerian native; 24. Work with choruses; 27. Tenor Schipa; 32. Sitting Bull’s tongue; 36. Search for 37-Downs; 37. See 36-Down; 43. Anna player in “Anna Karenina,” 1935; 44. 1990s president of the Philippines; 49. Calliope relative; 53. Marsh bird; 56. 1961 hit song for the Angels.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.