Sunday, May 31, 2009 ODD ONE OUT, Puzzle by Kelsey Blakley, edited by Will Shortz A note accompanies today’s crossword: Every letter in the answer to each asterisked clue appears an even number of times in that answer … except one. Altogether, these eight unpaired letters can be arranged to spell the answer to 68- and 70-Across. Some people are NUTS OVER crosswords is the 68/70-Across entry/clue. Not much of a clue, but the down entries are friendly enough to yield the across answer. The second part of this crossword is an anagrammatic afterthought; the note provided is of no help with the solution of the puzzle per se, being merely instructions for anyone who is truly nuts over crosswords that there is more to do. I gathered all the stray letters and still didn’t catch on until the mavens and ravens were rolling their eyes over my denseness. On the other hand, I’m not fond of look-ma-no-hands gimmicks that are of no help in the solution and require one to further dwell upon the crossword. I’m just saying… N is the odd one out in STRENUOUS EFFORT (46D. *Real work); U in INSUFFICIENCIES (102A. *Deficits); T in UNITARIAN CHURCH (23A. *Religious affiliation of John Adams and William Howard Taft); S in GOES UNDERGROUND (86A. * Hides out); O in TATTERED AND TORN (116A. *Ragged); V in PRIVATE PRACTICE (3D. *Not firm work?); E in ANTIPERSPIRANTS (33A. *You raise your arms for these); R in HIPPOCRATIC OATH (49A. *Physician’s promise). A few links across -- Creator of Princess Ozma; 32. Manila pact grp., 1954; 59. Oregon city, with “The”; 60. King of England, 946-55; 62. Film that lost the Best Picture Oscar to “Chariots of Fire”; 73. Illinois city; 100. Jaw site; 107. Jack Sprat’s dietary restriction; 123. Impressionist Degas. Down: 4. Dead giveaway; 6. Hill of Hill hearings; 15. Nubian Desert locale; 24. Explorer ALONSO Álvarez de Pineda, first European to see the Mississippi; 30. “LILI Marlene” (W.W. II love song); 35. 1967 #1 hit whose lyrics begin “What you want / Baby, I got it”; 54. Ancient playwright who originated the phrase “While there’s life, there’s hope”; 95. Author Welty; 117. She can be polled. ------------------ For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
05.31.09
Nuts Over Crosswords!
Sunday, May 31, 2009 ODD ONE OUT, Puzzle by Kelsey Blakley, edited by Will Shortz A note accompanies today’s crossword: Every letter in the answer to each asterisked clue appears an even number of times in that answer … except one. Altogether, these eight unpaired letters can be arranged to spell the answer to 68- and 70-Across. Some people are NUTS OVER crosswords is the 68/70-Across entry/clue. Not much of a clue, but the down entries are friendly enough to yield the across answer. The second part of this crossword is an anagrammatic afterthought; the note provided is of no help with the solution of the puzzle per se, being merely instructions for anyone who is truly nuts over crosswords that there is more to do. I gathered all the stray letters and still didn’t catch on until the mavens and ravens were rolling their eyes over my denseness. On the other hand, I’m not fond of look-ma-no-hands gimmicks that are of no help in the solution and require one to further dwell upon the crossword. I’m just saying… N is the odd one out in STRENUOUS EFFORT (46D. *Real work); U in INSUFFICIENCIES (102A. *Deficits); T in UNITARIAN CHURCH (23A. *Religious affiliation of John Adams and William Howard Taft); S in GOES UNDERGROUND (86A. * Hides out); O in TATTERED AND TORN (116A. *Ragged); V in PRIVATE PRACTICE (3D. *Not firm work?); E in ANTIPERSPIRANTS (33A. *You raise your arms for these); R in HIPPOCRATIC OATH (49A. *Physician’s promise). A few links across -- Creator of Princess Ozma; 32. Manila pact grp., 1954; 59. Oregon city, with “The”; 60. King of England, 946-55; 62. Film that lost the Best Picture Oscar to “Chariots of Fire”; 73. Illinois city; 100. Jaw site; 107. Jack Sprat’s dietary restriction; 123. Impressionist Degas. Down: 4. Dead giveaway; 6. Hill of Hill hearings; 15. Nubian Desert locale; 24. Explorer ALONSO Álvarez de Pineda, first European to see the Mississippi; 30. “LILI Marlene” (W.W. II love song); 35. 1967 #1 hit whose lyrics begin “What you want / Baby, I got it”; 54. Ancient playwright who originated the phrase “While there’s life, there’s hope”; 95. Author Welty; 117. She can be polled. ------------------ For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
Sunday, May 31, 2009 ODD ONE OUT, Puzzle by Kelsey Blakley, edited by Will Shortz A note accompanies today’s crossword: Every letter in the answer to each asterisked clue appears an even number of times in that answer … except one. Altogether, these eight unpaired letters can be arranged to spell the answer to 68- and 70-Across. Some people are NUTS OVER crosswords is the 68/70-Across entry/clue. Not much of a clue, but the down entries are friendly enough to yield the across answer. The second part of this crossword is an anagrammatic afterthought; the note provided is of no help with the solution of the puzzle per se, being merely instructions for anyone who is truly nuts over crosswords that there is more to do. I gathered all the stray letters and still didn’t catch on until the mavens and ravens were rolling their eyes over my denseness. On the other hand, I’m not fond of look-ma-no-hands gimmicks that are of no help in the solution and require one to further dwell upon the crossword. I’m just saying… N is the odd one out in STRENUOUS EFFORT (46D. *Real work); U in INSUFFICIENCIES (102A. *Deficits); T in UNITARIAN CHURCH (23A. *Religious affiliation of John Adams and William Howard Taft); S in GOES UNDERGROUND (86A. * Hides out); O in TATTERED AND TORN (116A. *Ragged); V in PRIVATE PRACTICE (3D. *Not firm work?); E in ANTIPERSPIRANTS (33A. *You raise your arms for these); R in HIPPOCRATIC OATH (49A. *Physician’s promise). A few links across -- Creator of Princess Ozma; 32. Manila pact grp., 1954; 59. Oregon city, with “The”; 60. King of England, 946-55; 62. Film that lost the Best Picture Oscar to “Chariots of Fire”; 73. Illinois city; 100. Jaw site; 107. Jack Sprat’s dietary restriction; 123. Impressionist Degas. Down: 4. Dead giveaway; 6. Hill of Hill hearings; 15. Nubian Desert locale; 24. Explorer ALONSO Álvarez de Pineda, first European to see the Mississippi; 30. “LILI Marlene” (W.W. II love song); 35. 1967 #1 hit whose lyrics begin “What you want / Baby, I got it”; 54. Ancient playwright who originated the phrase “While there’s life, there’s hope”; 95. Author Welty; 117. She can be polled. ------------------ For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
05.30.09
Zzzzzzzzzzzz!
Sleeping Beauty Thomas Ralph Spence Saturday, May 30, 2009 Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg, edited by Will Shortz The letter Z gets a work-out in this Saturday crossword with an even dozen. The Z-infected words in numerical order across -- 16. JACUZZI; 17. CHORIZO; 19. YITZHAK ; 45. ZOG, Planet visited by Spaceman Spiff in “Calvin and Hobbes”; 49. OZARK; 55. ZAG; 56. GIN FIZZ; 58. SEIZING; 60. ESTEVEZ; 62. HAZED. The second-hand use of the Z (the downs) -- 5. MAZY; 6. ELZIE; 11. BAZAARS; 20. ZOOS; 35. PIZZAZZ; 41. AMAZING; 49. OOZED; 57. FEZ; and last but not least, 59. ZED, Lack of organisation? (my spell-check keeps changing the "s" to a "z"!). Z-less entries of seven and eight letters, alphabetically -- DRAGGED; DRIVE-UP; HOAXING; JOJOBAS, word of the day; MOOCHED; ONE HALF; POLENTA and POMATUM; ROMANCE; SAMPRAS; SCHLOCK; SCRIMPS; SECLUDE; SLOWISH; SPHERIC; TERENCE; UNAWARE. Five and six -- ARDOR; BAHAI; B AND B; DODGED; ECOLI; FITCH; FIVER; FOURS; GRIST; JUST ME; KNEED; PETARD; RULES; RUMOR; SEE OUT; SOCKS; and because "sewage" wouldn’t fit, SWAGE (44D. Metalworking tool), word of the day runner-up. Three and four -- AMOK; AWE; BAUM (22A. “Mother Goose in Prose” author, 1897); CLAP; COAX; GIRO; HIVE; HOO; KAVA; MAMA; NPR; OWL; PEAK; RAP; TAR; THU; VAC; and due to "world" being too long, WOLD (48A. Chain of treeless rolling hills), yet another runner-up for word of the day. Freedom lives! We are free to Z it up in America, the letter was banned in Greece as the popular protest slogan "Ζει", meaning "he lives", the title of the film by Costa Garvas -- here’s the trailer for the film, Z. ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
Sleeping Beauty Thomas Ralph Spence Saturday, May 30, 2009 Puzzle by Matt Ginsberg, edited by Will Shortz The letter Z gets a work-out in this Saturday crossword with an even dozen. The Z-infected words in numerical order across -- 16. JACUZZI; 17. CHORIZO; 19. YITZHAK ; 45. ZOG, Planet visited by Spaceman Spiff in “Calvin and Hobbes”; 49. OZARK; 55. ZAG; 56. GIN FIZZ; 58. SEIZING; 60. ESTEVEZ; 62. HAZED. The second-hand use of the Z (the downs) -- 5. MAZY; 6. ELZIE; 11. BAZAARS; 20. ZOOS; 35. PIZZAZZ; 41. AMAZING; 49. OOZED; 57. FEZ; and last but not least, 59. ZED, Lack of organisation? (my spell-check keeps changing the "s" to a "z"!). Z-less entries of seven and eight letters, alphabetically -- DRAGGED; DRIVE-UP; HOAXING; JOJOBAS, word of the day; MOOCHED; ONE HALF; POLENTA and POMATUM; ROMANCE; SAMPRAS; SCHLOCK; SCRIMPS; SECLUDE; SLOWISH; SPHERIC; TERENCE; UNAWARE. Five and six -- ARDOR; BAHAI; B AND B; DODGED; ECOLI; FITCH; FIVER; FOURS; GRIST; JUST ME; KNEED; PETARD; RULES; RUMOR; SEE OUT; SOCKS; and because "sewage" wouldn’t fit, SWAGE (44D. Metalworking tool), word of the day runner-up. Three and four -- AMOK; AWE; BAUM (22A. “Mother Goose in Prose” author, 1897); CLAP; COAX; GIRO; HIVE; HOO; KAVA; MAMA; NPR; OWL; PEAK; RAP; TAR; THU; VAC; and due to "world" being too long, WOLD (48A. Chain of treeless rolling hills), yet another runner-up for word of the day. Freedom lives! We are free to Z it up in America, the letter was banned in Greece as the popular protest slogan "Ζει", meaning "he lives", the title of the film by Costa Garvas -- here’s the trailer for the film, Z. ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
05.29.09
Nonsense!
Nipper
Puzzle by Randolph Ross, edited by Will Shortz
Equal, essentially is the clue for ASPARTAME and likewise ARTIFICIAL. Pops is DEAR OLD DAD and beneath is INFERIOR TO… “Lost” category is PAST TENSE (verb, not TV) while from this moment on is ANY LONGER. IN ONE SENSE (29D. From a particular perspective) this crossword puzzle may appear homeostatic, e.g., IN BALANCE; however, initial STARES (44A. Some are blank) are guaranteed. What kind of clues are those? Producers of bold words produces TYPE FACES, long while is a DOG’S AGE accompanied by WOOFING (39A. Kennel clamor); memorable is REDLETTER, while the Sir Francis Drake discovery of 1579 is not California, but the GOLDEN GATE.
A few links -- RCA VICTOR (18A. Introducer of 45’s in ‘49), SEAHORSE (24D. Cousin of a stickleback); NATE (12D. With 20-Down kiddie-lit counterpart of Sherlock Holmes) THE GREAT; "Walk ON BY".
Nonsense!
For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
NipperFriday, May 29, 2009
Puzzle by Randolph Ross, edited by Will Shortz
Equal, essentially is the clue for ASPARTAME and likewise ARTIFICIAL. Pops is DEAR OLD DAD and beneath is INFERIOR TO… “Lost” category is PAST TENSE (verb, not TV) while from this moment on is ANY LONGER. IN ONE SENSE (29D. From a particular perspective) this crossword puzzle may appear homeostatic, e.g., IN BALANCE; however, initial STARES (44A. Some are blank) are guaranteed. What kind of clues are those? Producers of bold words produces TYPE FACES, long while is a DOG’S AGE accompanied by WOOFING (39A. Kennel clamor); memorable is REDLETTER, while the Sir Francis Drake discovery of 1579 is not California, but the GOLDEN GATE.
A few links -- RCA VICTOR (18A. Introducer of 45’s in ‘49), SEAHORSE (24D. Cousin of a stickleback); NATE (12D. With 20-Down kiddie-lit counterpart of Sherlock Holmes) THE GREAT; "Walk ON BY".
Nonsense!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
05.28.09
GET over IT
The Crying Boy by Bruno Amadio
Get over it!
For the complete post, go HERE.
The Crying Boy by Bruno Amadio Thursday, May 28, 2009 Puzzle by Gary Cee, edited by Will Shortz
GET OVER IT (36A. Advice for the brokenhearted … or one of four arrangements found literally in this puzzle) is an entry/clue that is of little or no use in the solution of this crossword -- it is more or less an afterthought. The hidden word GET lies OVER the hidden word IT in four places in the crossword.
PAGE TURNER (17A. Something that’s hard to close?) over IMITATE (20A. Mirror); ROGETS (21A. Editor’s resource) over SUITOR (26A. George Knightley, to Emma Woodhouse); BEGETS (50A. Fathers) over BITMAP (55A. Certain computer image format); SAGE TEA (57A. Herbal beverage) over INQUISITOR (60A. One in search of heretics).
Get over it!
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For the complete post, go HERE.
05.27.09
In Other Words...
Houses of Parliament, London, Sun Breaking Through the Fog, 1904 by Claude Monet Wednesday, May 27 , 2009 Puzzle by Corey Rubin, edited by Will Shortz Four long entries are featured in this Wednesday crossword -- KEEP ON LORRYIN (20A. Words of encouragement to a Brit?), think “keep on truckin"; CONGA QUEUE (29A. Group of dancing Brits?), conga line; WISE BLOKES (48A. British smart alecks?), wise guys; CATCH SOME ZEDS (56A. Sleep like a Brit?), catch some z-z-z-z-z-z… Wednesday links -- IN DRAG (8D. Clad like some Halloween paraders); MUSIC BOX (37D. It may have a spinning ballerina); CORGI; OXEYE; MOON, QUID.
Bob's your uncle!
Houses of Parliament, London, Sun Breaking Through the Fog, 1904 by Claude Monet Wednesday, May 27 , 2009 Puzzle by Corey Rubin, edited by Will Shortz Four long entries are featured in this Wednesday crossword -- KEEP ON LORRYIN (20A. Words of encouragement to a Brit?), think “keep on truckin"; CONGA QUEUE (29A. Group of dancing Brits?), conga line; WISE BLOKES (48A. British smart alecks?), wise guys; CATCH SOME ZEDS (56A. Sleep like a Brit?), catch some z-z-z-z-z-z… Wednesday links -- IN DRAG (8D. Clad like some Halloween paraders); MUSIC BOX (37D. It may have a spinning ballerina); CORGI; OXEYE; MOON, QUID.Bob's your uncle!
------------------ For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
05.26.09
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz
SWAP (1A. With 67-Across, an appropriate title for this puzzle?) and MEET (67A. See 1-Across), along with TRADE SCHOOL (17A. Where to learn a vocation), BARTER SYSTEM (28A. Basis for a moneyless economy), EXCHANGE RATE (44A. Two dollars per pound, say) and SWITCH PLATE (58A. “On/off” surrounder) are the interrelated entries of this Tuesday crossword.
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
05.25.09
Boys Climbing a Tree, 1790-92, Francisco Jose de Goya ya Lucientes
Monday, May 25, 2009 -- Memorial DayPuzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz
Nothing special here for Memorial Day. This is an odd little puzzle shy a vertical column of squares, making it 14x15, with three movie titles each containing the name of a three-letter
TREE (64A. Thing hidden in each of the movie names in this puzzle) within circles -- STEEL MAGNOLIAS (19A. 1989 Sally Field/Dolly Parton/Shirley MacLaine movie); BIG MOMMAS HOUSE (35A. 2000 Martin Lawrence movie); PRELUDE TO A KISS (50A. 1992 Alec Baldwin/Meg Ryan film). Hidden trees occurred in song titles in the New York Times crossword of Sunday, May 4, 2008.A few links --
BAGGY JEANS (26D. Hip-hop wear); LOVING CUPS (10D. Some trophies); SONNET (D. One of Shakespeare’s begins “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”); JANET and RENO are linked with the clue John Ashcroft’s predecessor as attorney general; HOSEA (38D. Old Testament prophet); 9D. Milan’s La SCALA.Remember the true meaning of Memorial Day!-----------------
For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.For the complete post, go HERE.
05.24.09 -- the Acrostic
Frontis -- H.M.S. Beagle in Straits of Magellan. Mt. Sarmiento in the distance. Sunday, May 24, 2009 ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon This Sunday’s fine acrostic features a quotation from Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle”, a title commonly given to the book written by Darwin published in 1839 as his Journal and Remarks. The title refers to the second survey expedition of the ship HMS Beagle, which set sail from Plymouth Sound on December 27, 1831 under the command of captain Robert FitzRoy. More HERE. It is 200 years since Charles Darwin, one of the world's most creative and influential thinkers, was born, February 12, 1809 (the same day as Abraham Lincoln). Darwin's thoughts and theories about the natural world hold true today. More on the Darwin Bicentennial HERE. The quotation: A STRONG DESIRE IS ALWAYS FELT TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER ANY HUMAN BEING HAS PREVIOUSLY VISITED AN UNFREQUENTED SPOT A BIT OF WOOD WITH A NAIL IN IT IS PICKED UP AND STUDIED AS IF IT WERE COVERED WITH HIEROGLYPHICS The author’s name and the title of the work: DARWIN THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE The defined words: A. DISCOVERY; B. ADVENTURE; C. REWARD; D. WHITE NILE; E. INTUITION; F. NICHE; G. TAHITI; H. HESPERUS; I. ECOSYSTEM; J. VERNE; K. OBSIDIAN; L. YAWP; M. ADAPTATION; N. GLASS; O. EDAPHIC; P. OUTFIT; Q. FISHING; R. THRIPS; S. HISS; T. EQUINE; U. BOW WOW; V. EUREKA; W. ADRIFT; X. GADFLY; Y. LOST; Z. ELAND. ----------------- For the complete post, go HERE.
05.24.09
INFINITY
Sunday, May 24, 2009 PERPETUAL MOTION, Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz This Sunday crossword is accompanied by the note, “When this puzzle is done, start at the end of 57-across; then, beginning counterclockwise, connect the circles in one continuous line to identify a figure invented by 29-Down. The answers to the five asterisked clues will provide a hint to the figure.” Connecting the circles as instructed identifies a figure that can already be seen without working the crossword; however, upon completion of that portion of the puzzle, spelled out in the circles is SYMBOL OF INFINITY. No hint needed, but there are five -- WORLD WITHOUT END (21A. *2007 Ken Follett novel); DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (25A. “Bond film that’s a real gem?”); HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL (100A. *Alexander Pope phrase appropriate to the start of a sports season); EVERLASTING LOVE (104A. *1974 Carl Carlton hit); ALWAYS MINE (47D. *Song by Tejano singer Selena). JOHN WALLIS (29D. See note), 114A. Arthur WYNNE, inventor of the crossword puzzle, and the highly inventive imagination of Elizabeth C. Gorski are this puzzle’s progenitors, along with the magician of crosswords, editor Will Shortz. Sunday links -- BLESSING (86A. Grace, basically); EXEGESES (79D. Biblical interpretations); IN HEAVEN (36A. Where “thy will” will be done, partly); COLD ONE (4D. Brewski); HALVAS (14D. Turkish sweets); JAMESI (45A. England’s first Stuart king); ORIELS (110A. Victorian home features); 67A. Roman ACLEF; MINEO (108A. “Exodus” actor); ROXIE (93D. “Chicago” song). Times up!
Sunday, May 24, 2009 PERPETUAL MOTION, Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski, edited by Will Shortz This Sunday crossword is accompanied by the note, “When this puzzle is done, start at the end of 57-across; then, beginning counterclockwise, connect the circles in one continuous line to identify a figure invented by 29-Down. The answers to the five asterisked clues will provide a hint to the figure.” Connecting the circles as instructed identifies a figure that can already be seen without working the crossword; however, upon completion of that portion of the puzzle, spelled out in the circles is SYMBOL OF INFINITY. No hint needed, but there are five -- WORLD WITHOUT END (21A. *2007 Ken Follett novel); DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (25A. “Bond film that’s a real gem?”); HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL (100A. *Alexander Pope phrase appropriate to the start of a sports season); EVERLASTING LOVE (104A. *1974 Carl Carlton hit); ALWAYS MINE (47D. *Song by Tejano singer Selena). JOHN WALLIS (29D. See note), 114A. Arthur WYNNE, inventor of the crossword puzzle, and the highly inventive imagination of Elizabeth C. Gorski are this puzzle’s progenitors, along with the magician of crosswords, editor Will Shortz. Sunday links -- BLESSING (86A. Grace, basically); EXEGESES (79D. Biblical interpretations); IN HEAVEN (36A. Where “thy will” will be done, partly); COLD ONE (4D. Brewski); HALVAS (14D. Turkish sweets); JAMESI (45A. England’s first Stuart king); ORIELS (110A. Victorian home features); 67A. Roman ACLEF; MINEO (108A. “Exodus” actor); ROXIE (93D. “Chicago” song). Times up! ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
05.23.09
IMPASSE
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Puzzle by Dave Tuller, edited by Will Shortz
ONE MOMENT PLEASE (3D. Old company telephone line) and TOSSIN AND TURNIN (11D. 1961#1 hit for Bobby Lewis) ooze fifteen squares down left and right in today’s maze of obscure trivia adorned with clues of extravagant nebulosity. AT AN IMPASSE (22D. Stuck) and BLACK BEAUTY (9D. Classic novel with a chapter titled “My Breaking In”) are the other two double-digit entries -- think about the possibilities for an eleven-letter answer for “stuck” -- or the thousands of chapter titles catalogued (or not) in the ISBN. The word impasse may also refer to any situation in which no progress can be made.
So, onwards! Saturday links -- ABE VIGODA; GESTATION; IGUANODON; RACIALISM; SAMOA TIME; SPONGE BOB; ELECTRA; HANG TEN; MANITOBA; PETREL; ELWES; ICTUS; KASHI; SEPOY; NOVA; SHUL and USE (43A. It may be fair).
Or not!
For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
Saturday, May 23, 2009Puzzle by Dave Tuller, edited by Will Shortz
ONE MOMENT PLEASE (3D. Old company telephone line) and TOSSIN AND TURNIN (11D. 1961#1 hit for Bobby Lewis) ooze fifteen squares down left and right in today’s maze of obscure trivia adorned with clues of extravagant nebulosity. AT AN IMPASSE (22D. Stuck) and BLACK BEAUTY (9D. Classic novel with a chapter titled “My Breaking In”) are the other two double-digit entries -- think about the possibilities for an eleven-letter answer for “stuck” -- or the thousands of chapter titles catalogued (or not) in the ISBN. The word impasse may also refer to any situation in which no progress can be made.
So, onwards! Saturday links -- ABE VIGODA; GESTATION; IGUANODON; RACIALISM; SAMOA TIME; SPONGE BOB; ELECTRA; HANG TEN; MANITOBA; PETREL; ELWES; ICTUS; KASHI; SEPOY; NOVA; SHUL and USE (43A. It may be fair).
Or not!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
05.22.09
Too Much Information
Friday, May 22, 2009 Puzzle by Manny Nosowsky, edited by Will Shortz I CAN’T SAY AS I HAVE (33A. “Not in my experience), IT’S A LULU (41A. “Wait’ll you see this!”), NOW WHAT (16A. Cry upon reaching an impasse) and SO AS TO (28A. Such that one might) are four prime examples of choose-a-phrase-for-the-entry clues that are so delightfully irritating in crossword puzzles. PANHELLENIC (24D. Of fraternities and sororities collectively) and PILTDOWN MAN (4D. Its teeth were actually a chimpanzee’s) are informationally welcome. SIXTY-NINE (20D. Cardinal that looks the same when viewed upside down) is initially mystifying and possesses a twinge of humor. TENOR SAX (25A. Ravel’s “Bolero” calls for one) is a wide-open clue with a who-would-know hard-fact answer -- just choose some instrument from the full orchestra for “Bolero” -- HERE. In short -- TMI (49A. “I didn’t need to know all that!,” informally). ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
Friday, May 22, 2009 Puzzle by Manny Nosowsky, edited by Will Shortz I CAN’T SAY AS I HAVE (33A. “Not in my experience), IT’S A LULU (41A. “Wait’ll you see this!”), NOW WHAT (16A. Cry upon reaching an impasse) and SO AS TO (28A. Such that one might) are four prime examples of choose-a-phrase-for-the-entry clues that are so delightfully irritating in crossword puzzles. PANHELLENIC (24D. Of fraternities and sororities collectively) and PILTDOWN MAN (4D. Its teeth were actually a chimpanzee’s) are informationally welcome. SIXTY-NINE (20D. Cardinal that looks the same when viewed upside down) is initially mystifying and possesses a twinge of humor. TENOR SAX (25A. Ravel’s “Bolero” calls for one) is a wide-open clue with a who-would-know hard-fact answer -- just choose some instrument from the full orchestra for “Bolero” -- HERE. In short -- TMI (49A. “I didn’t need to know all that!,” informally). ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
05.21.09
Thursday,
May 21, 2009Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer, edited by Will Shortz
A wandering
e in this Thursday crossword results in Barney Fife being a BARNEY FIEF (17A. Name of Lord Rubble’s feudal estate?); coal mine, COAL MIEN (26A. Air in a sooty shaft?); sneak peek, SNEAK PEKE (33A. Sly little dog?); Happy Feet, HAPPY FETE (46A. Celebration for a Disney dwarf?); snow cone, SNOW COEN (51A. Bamboozle a “Fargo” director?); and borderline, BORDER LIEN (65A. Property claim along the Rio Grande?). Fife fief, mine mien, peek peke, feet fete, coen cone, line lien…eeeeee!Oh well... Other long entries --
CORN BREAD and FIELD MICE followed by seven-letter entries, INFIDEL, NEONATE, SIMILES and TORN OUT. Six-letter -- AGREED; ARCANA; BOMBAY; CUBISM; DEFRAY; ONEUPS; PUENTE; RESOLE; TECHIE; YESMEN.Five -- CHASM; ENIAC; ESSEN; SCOUR;
LEROI; LIFER; NARCS; NURSE; OBAMA; RYDER; SCABS; UNCLE; WILTS.Short stuff -- ABBA, ABC, ADD, AER, AMAT, ANNE, ANTS, APE, ARAL, BOW and BRO, BRAN, BSMT, CAT, CLUE, EDAM, ELUL, ELS, EMMA, ETE and ETTE, GUYS, HENS, KOA, MEAL, NITE, NYU, OBI, ONMY, ORE, RAN, REES and REFS, RENE, ROCS, RPI, SEAS, SSA, TSAR, UPS, WOK, and welcome back,
YMA (47D. Sumac from Peru).------------------
For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.For the complete post, go HERE.
05.20.09
Frontispiece for the French Academy Dictionary, Engraved by Gerard Edelinck
Wednesday, May 20, 2009Puzzle by Ashish Vengsarkar, edited by Will Shortz
COLLEGE STATION (36A. Texas city … and a hint to the starts of 21-, 27, 45- and 56-Across) along with FRESHMAN SENATOR (21A. Barack Obama, 2005-08, e.g.); SOPHOMORE JINX (27A. Rookie’s superstition); JUNIOR PARTNER (45A. Subsidiary member of a firm); SENIOR DISCOUNTS (56A. Some restaurant and pharmacy lures) are the interrelated entries of this Wednesday 16-square wide crossword. APTITUDE TEST (18A. Entrance requirement, maybe) does well as an opener to the academic grouping, and
THE IMMORTALS (63A. French Academy’s 40 members) is a closer of sorts.A few more links --
PALOMINOS (12D. Gold-colored horses); ARMAND (1A. Actor Assante); MAMIE (25A. 1950s White House resident); SOREN (68A. Philosopher Kierkegaard).Graduation! It‘s that time of year!
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For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.For the complete post, go HERE.
05.19.09
Cock-a-doodle-doo...
The Cockfight, a painting by Frans Snyders Tuesday, May 19 , 2009 Puzzle by Damon J. Gulczynski, edited by Will Shortz COCKTAIL (19A. Tom Collins or Rob Roy) gives its’ tail to TAIL PIPE (24A. End of an exhaust system) which pipes a PIPE DREAM (32A. Unrealistic idea) to a DREAM TEAM (45A. 1992 U.S. Olympic hoopsters, with “the”) in a TEAM GAME (51A. Basketball or baseball) ending with a GAMECOCK (58A. Fighting rooster), in a round leading back to the top of the crossword. Tuesday links: EPHEMERAL (33D. Short-lived) and FOOTPRINT (9D. Evidence washed away by the tide); TATARS (21A. Turkic people); SCARP (11D. Bluff formed by a fault), AMAN, HESS, OLAN, OPAL, ZERO (2D. Total loser). That‘s all folks! ----------------- For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
05.18.09
CR
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Monday, May 18, 2009
Puzzle by Billie Truitt, edited by Will Shortz
Four two-word alliterative phrases utilizing CR (the symbol for Chromium) are the main feature of this Monday back-to-work crossword -- CRUMB CRUST (17A. Graham cracker pie shell); CREEPY CRAWLY (26A. Spider or worm); CREDIT CRUNCH (44A. Lending crisis); CRAB CREOLE (58A. Cajun seafood dish). The hard-C, double-K sound, sans the R, continues with the entries of CACTI (1D. Prickly plants) and KUKLA (61A. Friend of Fran and Ollie) -- poor soft C is left with ICE (37A. Freezer cubes).
Food today, including the above Graham and Cajun stuff -- BANANA (52A. Fruit for a monkey); FAJITA (10D. Tex-Mex treat); RAW ONION (55A. Common burger topper); BERRY (18D. Fruit on a bush).
Hey, why not do the ICE CUBE C WALK on the way to work! Here’s how!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
+Motorcycle+Reflections.jpg)
Monday, May 18, 2009Puzzle by Billie Truitt, edited by Will Shortz
Four two-word alliterative phrases utilizing CR (the symbol for Chromium) are the main feature of this Monday back-to-work crossword -- CRUMB CRUST (17A. Graham cracker pie shell); CREEPY CRAWLY (26A. Spider or worm); CREDIT CRUNCH (44A. Lending crisis); CRAB CREOLE (58A. Cajun seafood dish). The hard-C, double-K sound, sans the R, continues with the entries of CACTI (1D. Prickly plants) and KUKLA (61A. Friend of Fran and Ollie) -- poor soft C is left with ICE (37A. Freezer cubes).
Food today, including the above Graham and Cajun stuff -- BANANA (52A. Fruit for a monkey); FAJITA (10D. Tex-Mex treat); RAW ONION (55A. Common burger topper); BERRY (18D. Fruit on a bush).
Hey, why not do the ICE CUBE C WALK on the way to work! Here’s how!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
05.17.09
Perfect Job
Sunday, May 17, 2009 PERFECT JOBS, Puzzle by Oliver Hill, edited by Will Shortz In this Sunday crossword, dusting, warring, rowing, robbing, daring, landing, branding and holding are paronomastic proper name / vocational activities for HOUSEKEEPER (22A. Perfect job for Dustin?); MERCENARY (25A. Perfect job for Warren?); OLYMPIC CANOER (44A. Perfect job for Rowan?); MASTER THIEF (65A. Perfect job for Robin?); STUNT DOUBLE (71A. Perfect job for Darren?); AIRPLANE PILOT (93A. Perfect job for Landon?); COWHERDER (118A. Perfect job for Brandon?); POKER PLAYER (121A. Perfect job for Holden?). Sunday links -- BRAIN DEAD (21A. Completely unthinking) or the grisly film BRAINDEAD; DETERGE (97A. Clean) and WASH (52D. Scrub); GNOMIST (63D. Writer of aphorisms); GREMLIN (58A. Mischievous one); APSIS (4D. Orbital point), COOER, DIVED, STONE, RICK (32D. “Casablanca” bistro owner), EMO (119D. Genre of Fall Out Boy) . All in a day's work! ------------------ For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
Sunday, May 17, 2009 PERFECT JOBS, Puzzle by Oliver Hill, edited by Will Shortz In this Sunday crossword, dusting, warring, rowing, robbing, daring, landing, branding and holding are paronomastic proper name / vocational activities for HOUSEKEEPER (22A. Perfect job for Dustin?); MERCENARY (25A. Perfect job for Warren?); OLYMPIC CANOER (44A. Perfect job for Rowan?); MASTER THIEF (65A. Perfect job for Robin?); STUNT DOUBLE (71A. Perfect job for Darren?); AIRPLANE PILOT (93A. Perfect job for Landon?); COWHERDER (118A. Perfect job for Brandon?); POKER PLAYER (121A. Perfect job for Holden?). Sunday links -- BRAIN DEAD (21A. Completely unthinking) or the grisly film BRAINDEAD; DETERGE (97A. Clean) and WASH (52D. Scrub); GNOMIST (63D. Writer of aphorisms); GREMLIN (58A. Mischievous one); APSIS (4D. Orbital point), COOER, DIVED, STONE, RICK (32D. “Casablanca” bistro owner), EMO (119D. Genre of Fall Out Boy) . All in a day's work! ------------------ For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated. For the complete post, go HERE.
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