Monday,
October 26, 2009Puzzle by Mike Nothnagel, edited by Will Shortz
Four names rhyming with XFACTOR (36A. Mystery quality … or what 18- and 55-Across and 3- and 32-Down have?) -- FOX MULDER (18A. Dana Scully’s sci-fi partner), MAX YASGUR (55A. Owner of the farm where Woodstock took place), LEX LUTHOR (3D. “Superman” villain) and TEX RITTER (32D. Cowboy who sang the title song from “High Noon”). Is it a stretch to say that the call of a newsboy, EXTRA (31A. When repeated, bygone newsboy’s cry), echoed by XTERRA (36D. Nissan S.U.V.) give a playful ring to this Monday crossword -- the question is whether XFACTOR rhymes with the four proper names and/or where the reverberations of the bygone call of the newsboy begin or end -- soothsaying ghost in the city’s canyons of hard times and skyscrapers.
The news is that this is a good read, nay excellent, far above the usual Monday crossword -- contrasts and counterpoints abound, PERMIT ME (52A. “If I may … “) like an ALLEY CAT (20A. Prowling feline) on the, well, prowl… Nissan’s S.U.V. has a companion in the ALTIMA sedan, PUNK and POKE share their K, OSAGE and OSIERS resonate, ACHE and ACRE, OPAL and OPERA, PRO and PEROT, VENTI, VERSE and VIXEN, REGO and ROMA, SHOO and SHOT, alongside the thud of SOX (8D. “Red” or “White” baseball team) and MESS UP (44D. Goof) --
yes, the YANKEES are in the World Series this year!A few links -- SALTBOX (10D. House style with a long pitched roof in back); ULSTER (19D. Coat named for an Irish province); AUDIE (11D. Actor Murphy of old westerns); NEMEA (43A. Ancient Greek city with a mythical lion).Extra! Extra!------------------
For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.For the complete post, go HERE.
