11.04.09

O Factor

Wednesday,
November 4, 2009
Puzzle by Ricky Ini Liu, edited by Will Shortz
In this odd Wednesday crossword, Trix cereal, xenophobic, X-Men comics, Federal tax, X-rated movie and boxing match each have the letter X replaced with the letter O resulting in TRIO CEREAL (18A. Three-ingredient breakfast serving?); OENOPHOBIC (24A. Afraid of wine?); OMEN COMICS (53A. Foreboding cartoons?); FEDERAL TAO (60A. The way of the government?); ORATED MOVIE (3D. Film that’s been speechified?); BOOING MATCH (26D. Shout of disapproval exactly like another?). The corresponding entries sharing the letter O are all incidental -- CHO, INTRO, CLEO, STOOD, AMOR and ORA.
Wednesday links -- ARIZONA (34D. Pearl Harbor ship); MALAYA (2D. 1941-42 Allies vs. Japanese battle locale); MARCEAU (6D. Mime who created Bip); CERES (54D. Dwarf planet in the asteroid belt); MACAU (33A. Former Portuguese colony in China); ZORRO (16A. Swordsman who leaves his mark); ERIS (46A. Largest dwarf planet in the solar system).
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For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.