09.30.09

Authors

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Puzzle by Kevin G. Der, edited by Will Shortz

CONCORD MA in circles, RALPH WALDO EMERSON (1A. With 6- and 22-Across, noted 19th century writer), NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE (24A. With 53-Across, noted 19th-century writer), LOUISA MAY ALCOTT (39A. Noted 19th-century writer) and HENRY DAVID THOREAU (70A. With 71- and 55-Across, noted 19th century writer) are the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other -- OBAMA (54D. “The Audacity of Hope” author) and PLATH (4D. Sylvia who wrote “The Bell Jar”).

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09.29.09

AT SEA

Peace: Burial at Sea, 1842 by J. M. W. Turner

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Puzzle by Paula Gamache, edited by Will Shortz

AT SEA (71A. Clueless … or where the answers to this puzzle’s starred clues were all first used), LOOSE CANNON (17A. * Dangerously unpredictable sort), DEEP SIX (39A. *Junk), HARD AND FAST (61A. *Inviolable, as rules), IN THE OFFING (11D. *Likely to happen) and CHOCK A BLOCK (25D. *Jammed) are the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

A few more links -- LEND-LEASE (8D. War aid program passed by Congress in 1941); ADSPEAK (4D. Marketers’ “language”); 50A. VIENNA Boys’ Choir; ANNIE (7D. Photographer Leibovitz); TALON (6A. Osprey’s claw).

Way hay and up she rises, early in the morning!

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

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09.28.09

Failure

Failure © 2007 Sean Hopp

Monday, September 28, 2009

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz

Synonymy with failure in the guises of bomb, bust, dud, flop, turkey and perhaps tank comprises interrelated group of this Monday gloom-and-doom crossword -- COLD TURKEY (17A. Abrupt way to quit), MILK DUD (40A. Chocolaty morsel munched at movies), CHERRY BOMB (63A. Round, red firecracker), DRUG BUST (11D. Narc’s raid); FLIP FLOP (39D. Beach wear) and maybe/maybe not TANK TOP (26D. Close-fitting sleeveless shirt). On top of it all, CRAP (16A. Losing roll in a casino) and RESIGN (67A. Quit one’s job) render this beginning-of-the-week puzzle even DIRER (18D. More grim)!

A few links -- RAMADAN, ZAMBEZI, AZALEA, MILLER (3D. Arthur who wrote “Death of a Salesman”), SONORA, LAPAZ, PEREZ, SARGE and the WAR of 1812.

Ah, a paean to the pain of FAILURE!

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09.27.09 -- the Acrostic

Mytacism

Sunday, September 27, 2009

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

Barbara Wallraff is a weekly syndicated columnist for King Features and a contributing editor and words columnist at The Atlantic Monthly, where she has worked since 1983. She is the author of the nationally best-selling book "Word Court," "Your Own Words," and "Word Fugitives."

The quotation: WORDS EXIST TO DESCRIBE ALL SORTS OF IDEAS CONSIDER MISNOMER A WRONG OR UNSUITABLE NAME MNEMONIC A DEVICE SUCH ASA FORMULA OR RHYME TO ASSIST MEMORY MUMBO JUMBO GIBBERISH AND MYTACISM EXCESSIVE USE OF THE LETTER M

The author’s name and the title of the work: BARBARA WALLRAFF WORD COURT

The defined words: A. BUM STEER; B. ATAVISM; C. RECUMBENT; D. BASHFUL; E. ASSUMED; F. REVELERS; G. AMATORY; H. WITHSTOOD; L. AEROBICS; J. LUMMOX; K. LISSOME; L. RECONDITE; M. ACADEMY; N. Carlos Montoya’s music, FLAMENCO; O. FINESSE; P. WHIMSY; Q. OMISSION; R. REMORSE; S. DINGBAT; T. CHIME IN; U. OBJECT; V. UXORIOUS; W. Richard who composed “Maria,” Mimi” and “Moon of My Delight,” RODGERS; X. TRANSOM.

For Word Court, go HERE.

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For the complete post, go HERE.

09.27.09

Schizophrenia

The Person With Two Faces, Copyright Eugene Ivanov

Sunday, September 27, 2009

THAT IS TWO SAY, Puzzle by Patrick Berry, Edited by Will Shortz

Thirteen squares scattered willy-nilly across this gimmick crossword contain two letters each. Read in one direction, the two letters are simply two letters -- in the other , they are to be read aloud, resulting in phonetics, e.g., CU (see you), DK (decay), SA (essay), DM (diem), ED (Edie), KT (Katy), AT (Eighty), XS (excess), EZ (easy), KC (Casey), QP (Kewpie), IV (ivy) and NV (envy).

It’s a mess!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

09.26.09

Change Encounter

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Puzzle by Joon Pahk, edited by Will Shortz

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For today’s post, go HERE.

09.25.09

CLUING

Whisper, by Mandaly Louis-Charles

Friday, September 25, 2009

Puzzle by Robert A. Doll, edited by Will Shortz

CLUING (1A. Informing, with “in”) is the lead entry of this Friday crossword which features three of fifteen letters -- IT’S A ZOO OUT THERE (16A. Frazzled commuter’s comment), DISTRESS SIGNALS (33A. Attempts to get help) and THE POWERS THAT BE (55A. Big decision makers) while DON’T TASE ME BRO slices down the center of the crossword with the cluing of Memorable catchphrase of 2007 -- making for a crossword cloaked in angst!

A few links, across -- 13. Collie, e.g., HERDER; 25. Tent erector’s tool, MAUL; 38. Nigerian native, IBO; 40. Robert Louis Stevenson setting, SAMOA; 62. French/Belgian border river, LYS.

Down -- 3. “The Little Mermaid” villain, URSULA; 5. Part of a French face, NEZ; 11. Ancient Lusitania, now, PORTUGAL; 17. Part of a French face, OEIL; 27. Birthplace of Parmenides, ELEA; 42. L’ETAPE du Tour (annual cycling event); 56. Loosen, in a way, OIL.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

09.24.09

EASY

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz

EASY (63A. Like this puzzle … not!) seems an odd way to end a crossword, especially if one finds the solve to be easy. Nevertheless, the clues and entries for the interrelated group are a bit inane and inanity is often difficult to understand. THE BEATLESS (17A. Band without a drummer?), SO LONG ASS (24A. “See ya, idiot!”?), TRAINING BRASS (35A. Mission of an Army officers’ school?); WHO CARESS (47A. Nice touch from Roger Daltry and Pete Townshend?); SHUTTLE BUSS (54A. Playful kiss on the Discovery?) -- all that's involved is adding the letter S to the ends of The Beatles, so long as, training bras, shuttle bus, and who cares?

Thursday links -- JET PACKS (11D. Aids for spacewalkers) or go HERE; WHAT A GUY (30A. “Gotta love him!”); DAWDLED (38D. Lallygagged); ORANTES (1975 U. S. Open winner Manuel); KITSCH (1D. Garden gnomes and such); 5A. NESSIE (59A. Cryptozoology figure); SERAPH (20A. Divine creature with six wings); ULTIMA Thule, distance unknown land); KANE (28D. Publisher of the fictional New York Inquirer), SLED (52D. Beloved object of 28-Down).

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

09.23.09

Whatever Happened to Henry Hudson?

The Halve Maen in the Hudson River

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Puzzle by Jonathan Gersch, edited by Will Shortz

HENRY HUDSON (55A. Explorer who sailed into 46-Across in 1609), NEW YORK HARBOR (46A. See 55-Across), HALF MOON (1A. With 69-Across ship of 55-Across), DISCOVERY (18A. Aptly named ship on a later voyage of 55-Across), ARCTIC OCEAN (20A. Body of water sailed in by 55-Across), TRANSATLANTIC (26A. Like most of the voyages of 55-Across), SPICE TRADE (67A. With 8-Across, business of 55-Across’s backers) and AMSTERDAM (61A. 55-Across’s destination when returning to Europe) are the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

So, whatever happened to Henry Hudson?

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

09.22.09

"Tough!"

This 1846 lithograph by Nathaniel Currier was entitled "The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor"; the phrase "Boston Tea Party" had not yet become standard. Contrary to Currier's depiction, few of the men dumping the tea were actually disguised as American Indians.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Puzzle by Gail Grabowski, edited by Will Shortz

“Tough!” is the clue for three long entries -- JUST DEAL WITH IT; TOO BAD, SO SAD; and THEM’S THE BREAKS. Other negativity in the crossword includes UH OH (15A. “We’re in trouble!”); 17A. NE’ER-do-well; SKIP (32A. Problem with an old 45); ICIER (34A. More standoffish); HEAP (41A. Disorderly stack); PEEVE (56A. Source of annoyance); LEER (61A. Womanizer’s look); CON JOB (1D. Swindler’s work); SHOW ME (8D. “You’ll have to demonstrate); TASERS (48D. Cops’ stunners); 52D. “Did you EVER?”; BEEP (55D. Sound heard during gridlock); I SWEAR (3D. “No fooling!).

A few links -- (YELP (63A. Pound cry); TEA CHEST (35D. Bit of 1773 Boston Harbor jetsam); TORTE (4D. Dessert from Linz); UMA (30D. Thurman of “Kill Bill“).

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

09.21.09

Magazine Readers

Monday, September 21, 2009

Puzzle by Mark Feldman, edited by Will Shortz

MAGAZINE READERS (39A.What 17-, 20-, 56- and 60-Across are?), TIME KEEPER (17A. Official with a stopwatch), SELF PROMOTER (20A. Bragging sort), PEOPLE PERSON (56A. One good at forming connections with others) and MONEY LOVER (60A. Miser, e.g.) are the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Monday links -- AL CAPONE (40D. Gangster a k a Scarface), ADAMS (22D. John or John Quincy); Florentine painter Fra Filippo LIPPI; URIAH (23D. Dickens’s Heep); ASTA (52A. “The Thin Man“ pooch“), EMUS (57D. Down Under birds), OWL (46D. “Whoo … whoo …” caller), WREN.

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

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09.20.09

NYSE

New York Stock Exchange, 1979, Santi Visalli

Sunday, September 20, 2009

CLOSING BELL, Puzzle by Michael Ashley, edited by Will Shortz

NYSE (43D. Closing bell place: Abbr.), along with seven entries of common phrases transformed by ending in DING are the interrelated group of this Sunday crossword -- RAISIN BRAN DING (23A. Goal of Sun-Maid’s marketing); GREENS FEE DING (39A. Salad bar activity?); OF MICE AND MEN DING (52A. Book on how to repair rodent damage?); LONG TIME NO SEE DING (69A. Reason that nothing’s growing on the farm?); AINT WE GOT FUN DING (88A. Question from a campaign committee?); GENTLE BEN DING (98A. Exercise for beginning yoga students?); DRAWING PEN DING (120A. Tardy illustrator’s assurance?). Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

A few links -- FELDSPAR (91D. Mineral that crystallizes from magma), SUBPOENA (6D. Form of 4-Down), ORTRANTO (93D. Town on the SE tip of Italy that’s the title setting for a Horace Walpole novel), HUEVOS (86A. Dish served ranchero-style), SACHA (129A. Baron Cohen who created 25-Down), ALIG (25D. Alter ego of Borat and Bruno), WRIT (4D. Formal order).

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09.19.09

Bound Legs With Clubs

Caveman Stuck in Tar, Alex Fleisig

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Puns and Anagrams, Puzzle by Mel Taub, edited by Will Short

ROLLER BEARING (14A. Mien of a crapshooter will reduce friction) and TRIP INSURANCE (40A. Fall guy’s protection when traveling) are the two 15-letter entries in a crossword that BLUDGEONS (15D. Bound legs with clubs) the usual Saturday with puns and anagrams.

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For the complete post, go HERE.

09.18.09

A Puzzle with IN

Charles Laughton as Inspector Javert in the 1935 film of Les Miserables

Friday, September 18, 2009

Puzzle by Charles E. Gersch, edited by Will Shortz

Three 15-letter entries beginning with IN are the main feature of this Friday crossword -- INSURANCE POLICY (16A. Something that may cover a house), INTENTIONAL WALK (35A. Pitcher’s ploy) and INSPECTOR JAVERT (55A. Literary character played in film by Charles Laughton, Anthony Perkins and Geoffrey Rush).

A few more links -- HAPPY TALK (14A. “South Pacific” song that asks “If you don’t have a dream, / How you gonna have a dream come true?”); POLE VAULT (17D. Try to clear the bar); REENACTOR (61A. One seriously into Civil War history, maybe); FIDELIO (22A. Opera that includes the “Prisoners’ Chorus”); UGARTE (40A. “Casablanca” role); ELCID (8D. Conqueror of Valencia in 1094); 47D. PORTO-Novo (capital of Benin); GOT and GOV.

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

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09.17.09

Topsy-Turvy

Viaducts Break Ranks, 1937, Paul Klee

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Puzzle by Arthur Schulman, edited by Will Shortz

Reversing clue and entry comprises the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword. Bygone familiar short-fill entries such as AIS, OCAS, MOAS, ERI, ARA and ERS, desperate little crossword fill that appears over and over again, function as clues -- THREE-TOED SLOTHS (37A. Ais), WOODSORRELS (3D. Ocas), FLIGHTLESS BIRDS (7D. Moas), ASSAM SILKWORM (9D. Eri); CONSTELLATION (18D. Ara) and BITTER VETCH (27D. Ers). These odd little interjections have all been highlighted by my spellcheck, most likely mistaking them for sounds of gastronomic disturbance undocumented by HAL.

A few links -- ORSINI (23A. Noble family name in medieval Italy shared by two popes); AQABA (9A. Jordan’s only seaport); BLINI (35A. They’re often served with caviar); BRAHE (28D. Danish astronomer who followed Copernicus); KLEES (42A. “Fish Magic” and “Viaducts Break Ranks”); TIERS (38D. Ziggurat features).

Short stuff (all relatives of AIS, OCAS, MOAS, ERI, ARA and ERS) -- AIL and ALI, AMFM, ANY, AMO and APO, ARAB and AROD, BBS, BIGS, BUS, EDGE, EVA, HARM, HOD, IAGO, IBAR, IRE, ISEE and ISSY, ITS, KIT, LESS, MCAT, MEA, MILE and MINE, OHNO, OLEG and OLAN, OSSA, OWAR, PEI, QUAY, RNS, SDS, SEWS, TAU, TEE, TRES, ULE...

…and WAY (22A. Very, informally), er... Topsy-Turvy!

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

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09.16.09

SEESAW

"See Saw Margery Daw", ca 1920 by Jennie Harbour

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 -- Mexican Independence Day

Puzzle by Maura B. Jacobson, edited by Will Shortz

TWO FOR THE SEESAW (64A. 1962 Robert Mitchum/Shirley MacLaine film … or the outcome of 17- and 40-Across?); TWENTY-ONE SWINGS (17A. Playground situation #1) and TWENTY-THREE KIDS (40A. Playground situation #2) comprise the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword. See SEESAW.

A few more links -- IN THE U S A (21A. Where Springsteen was born); IN A TUB (20A. Place for three men of verse); MAHER (29D. Bill who said of his TV monologues “It’s all been satirized for your protection”); NADA and NASA.

See Saw Margery Daw, / Jacky shall have a new master; / Jacky shall earn but a penny a day, / Because he can't work any faster.

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09.15.09

Things With Wings

The Winged Victory of Samothrace

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Puzzle by Fran and Lou Sabin, edited by Will Shortz

THINGS WITH WINGS (38A. What the answers to all the asterisked clues are), MOTH (1A. *One attracted to a flame), DOUBLE EAGLE (17A. *Bygone $20 gold coin), AIR FORCE ONE (58A. *President’s ride); GNAT (69A. *Pest you might slap), RAF INSIGNIA (12D. *Mark on a Brit. Military pilot’s uniform) and NIGHTINGALE (24D. *Nocturnal songster) comprise the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

A few more links -- ORIOLES NEST; ANDRES; PAIRED; PROSIT; SPEWED; KODAK; USED (10D. Secondhand).

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09.14.09

Watch Your S!

ASPISH (24-Down, Venomous, as a snake)

Monday, September 14, 2009

Puzzle by Bernice Gordon, edited by Will Shortz

OLIVERSTONE (17A. Film director’s sound?), MARGARETSANGER (26A. Birth control advocate’s fury?), GEORGESHEARING (43A. Jazz pianist’s court appearance?) and TOMSMOTHERS (57A. Comedian’s parents?) are the interrelated group of this Monday crossword, e.g., well-known names shifting an S from the last name to the first, to become a possessive. Hmmm…how about NICKSWISHER (Well for a baseball player?).

A few Monday links -- CREMONA (10D. Onetime center of Italian violin manufacture), STTERESA (20A. Nun from Avila), MULAN (42A. 1998 Disney film set in China), USA and USSR.

Watch your S!

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

This crossword is the first of a series called Half-Century Puzzlemakers’ Week -- read Wordplay for details -- HERE.

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For the complete post, go HERE.