05.02.08

Blah, Blah, Blah!

"Tower of Babel" by an Unknown Flemish Master, 1587 -- Kurpfalzisches Museum, Heidelberg

Genesis 11:1-9 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
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Friday, May 2, 2008

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz

AYCARAMBA (12D. “Sheesh!,” south of the border), a crossword that opens with SPACERACE (1A Contest with many missions) and ends up STONEDEAD (56A. Unrevivable).

IWANTYOU (47A. Famous finger-pointer’s declaration) that old saw from a SLOGANEER (13D. One whose work may be catchy) joins a PANELIST (14D. “What‘s My Line?” participant) and OVERSEERS (17A. Heads) of TUTELAGE (20A. Charge) to lead the UNLED (43D. Anarchic) with a posse of puzzle people like LAYLA (16A 1972 top 10 hit that‘s seven minutes long); 1960s Elvis-style singer RAL Donner (24A.); RHONDA (25A. Beach Boys title girl); EELERS (35A. Some fishermen); Philosopher Mo-TZE (40A.); SERBS (41A. Some Bosnians); George SZELL, longtime Cleveland Orchestra conductor (55A.); a PAVER (2D. One of a lot of workers?); CHRIS (4D. Rock on a stage), an EASTERNER (5A. Bay Stater or Garden Stater); a GAEL (11D. Iona College athlete); “I Wish” rapper SKEE-Lo (30D.); TANIA (45D. “Lost” actress Raymonde); NELL (48D. 1994 Jodie Foster title role); GWEN (“Jubilee Trail” novelist Bristow) and a GUNMAN (49A. Torpedo).

AGASP (10A. Showing shock) of CRIMES (31A. Record listings?); “And their lies caused them TOERR”: Amos 2:4 (23A.); but not a STEAL (41D. Diamond datum); this puzzle lacks not food nor drink -- MANHATTAN (15A. Cousin of a Rob Roy); SHAKERS (33A. Couple seen in a restaurant); SHERBET (34A. Ice relative); NILLA Wafers (53A.); SMORE (1D. Gooey goody); ATE (7D. Took sides?); CARTONS (8D. Egg holders); HERSHEY (26D. City where Chocolate Avenue crosses Cocoa Avenue); CHEEZWHIZ (28D. Kraft brand); and perhaps a steak, UNBURNT (36D. Still “well,” but not beyond) hopefully not down the TRACHEA (21D. Bronchoscopist’s view).

CANI (27A. Kid’s query) prattle on? BALDEAGLE (29D. Great Seal image) and REDSQUARE (32D. Kazan Cathedral locale) represent the U.S. and U.S.S.R., SECTIONS (33D. Paper parts) and CBSNEWS (28A. “See it Now” producer of 1950s TV) the press. USEDCAR (36A. Sonata that might not sound good) has a totally weird clue; ENSUED, EROSE and ERODES seem related, but not by their clues: 9D. Came after, 22A. Jagged and 39D. Undermines.

OHGEE (50A. “Well, golly”), everything’s ENTEREDIN (54A. Became a participant) -- Ah, there’s left over REMITS (19A. Pays); DECON (18A. Purification process, briefly); CEDES (37A. Turn over); HENNAS (38A. Leatherworking dyes); QUITO (42A. Capital just south of the Equator); ANEMO (3D. Wind: Prefix); RTES (6D. Some are rural: Abbr.); ALDER (10D. Tree with catkins); TOWS (23D. Garage jobs); CIRC (27A. Magazine figure, for short); SSNS (34D. I.R.S. data: Abbr.) and IMIDE (44D. Amonia derivative) -- but who cares!

ATO Z (52D.), one could go ONEND (46D. Without a break), but here’s the place to DRAWALINE (51A. Declare “I will go no further than this”)!

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

05.01.08

GROSS GimmICK

I Am Glad I Came Back -- “…I go on with my work, it changes and all of a sudden there is fire and ruins and mud and grim debris all over...as if somebody more knowing and utterly destructive is leading me on.” -- George Grosz
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Thursday, May 1, 2008

Puzzle by Jim Leeds, edited by Will Shortz

Today’s puzzle features nine squares barely able to hold the letters ICK, which is fully intended to be an expression of revulsion, as clued by the central across entry GROSS (38. “That’s repulsive!” … or a hint to this puzzle‘s theme) -- WARNING, don‘t go HERE!

The across entries containing the nine multiple-letter squares are MRPICKWICK (17. Club founder and president in an 1836 Dickens novel); DROPKICKER (18. Field goal attempter, once); MONICKER (36A. Handle); SNICKERS (41. 6th Avenue alternative); BUICK (53. Century, e.g.); BREADSTICK (59. Crispy appetizer); QUICKTRICK (61. Easy winner in bridge). The corresponding down entries are STICKS (4. Boonies); SNICK and Snee (6.); CHICKENLICKEN (11. Hysterical hen of fable); STICKWICKETS (35. Awkward situations, informally); CLICKER (52. Quiz show gizmo); TICKET (56. Amusement park purchase); and PICKAT (58. Eat without enthusiasm).

All of the above, and for that matter, the remainder of the puzzle, fairly well exists to support the ICK gimmick; however, few of them are of help in the divination of the squares containing ICK. One is left constantly wondering where to stick the next ICK! I got my first ICKs in the upper left corner and my last licks with ICKs weren’t ICKs at all, although I tried to stick an ICK in the upper right corner, but it just wouldn’t fit!

ACK (10D. When repeated, antiaircraft fire), no relation -- leads off the barrage of the nonsensical abbreviation/ crosswordese parade which always exist in this genre, including ACTE, ANNO, ANTE, ARTS, AST, ATL, AYN, BBLS, CHE, CHEZ, DADO, DSC, ESA, EZRA, GMC, HOT, LASH, LETS, NEXT, NSA, QBS, RBI, SEXT, SYST, TEES and UREY.

A few of the longer entries sans multiple-letter squares include LASTDROP (33A. Tiniest bit at the bottom of a coffee cup); BEASTS (1A. Unicorns and griffins); STETHO (46D. Chest: Prefix); THORN (26A. Cause of a sore spot); WYATT (47A. Sir Thomas who introduced the sonnet to England); and BAMBA (1D. 1959 pop hit, after “La").

Great puzzle, GROSS GimmICK!

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

04.30.08

Googling on My Mind

Copperstate Design
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Puzzle by Henry Hook, edited by Will Shortz

GOOGLING (1D. Solver’s online recourse) has changed the world of crossword puzzles as surely as it has changed the world. Authors (or constructors) of crosswords, along with solvers are falling further and further into the pit of electronic entries -- even the clues are being affected. The crossword puzzle constructor has forced the issue -- it is possible to find a justification for almost every combination of letters in any corner of the puzzle into which the constructor has been painted. It doesn’t take a vast array of knowledge or exhausting tactile research to come up with a Mann’s “Der TOD in Venedig”.

Change that clue --GOOGLING (1D. Crossword constructor's online recourse). Like it or not, it's here to stay! So Google this!

GENTLEONMYMIND (20A. 1968 Glen Campbell hit); GEORGIAONMYMIND (34A. 1960 Ray Charles hit); and ALWAYSONMYMIND are this Wednesday’s inter-related entries.

Across: 1. Taunt; 5. Slalomer’s moves; 9. “ALLI ask is a tall ship…”; John Masefield; 16. “Present” in bad kids’ Christmas stockings; 18. Bellini two-actor; 23. Daughter of Muhammad Ali; 25. Mouse who’s always throwing bricks at Krazy Kat; 40. Peace-and-quiet venue; 42. Title lover in a 1920s Broadway hit; 44. Little fingers or toes; 47. He wrote “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invest him”; 57. False deity; 59. New Jersey’s SETON Hall University; 61. 1961 “space chimp”; 63. Accordion part.

Down: 4. Title locale in a Cheech Marin flick; 5. Actor Billy of “Titanic”; 6. “What AGOOD boy am I!”; 8. Super Bowl XXI M.V.P., first to say” I’m going to Disney World!”; 11. Longtime Cowboys coach Tom; 32. Singer DiFranco; 35. Things people are trained in?; 36. Van Susteren of Fox News; 42. Burial place of King Arthur; 49. N.H.L. Eastern Conf. team; 54. Department store section.

Today's Shortzesque twin clues? 15- and 48- Down, Senate tally, NAYS and AYES.

Google it!

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

04.29.08

SYZYGY

Syzygy, stained glass by Carl Powell

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Puzzle by Will Nediger, edited by Will Shortz

Five alphabetical syzygies are the inter-related entries of today’s crossword:

ALLTHATJAZZ (17A. Semiautobiographical Bob Fosse film); ALEXRODRIGUEZ (38A. A.L. M.V.P. in 2003, 2005 and 2007); APOLLOSOYUZ (60A. 1970s joint U.S./Soviet space project); ASHKENAZ (12D. Namesake of a branch of Judaism); and ALCATRAZ (38D. The Rock) -- that is to say, each entry begins with the letter A and ends with the letter Z.

SYZYGY (46D. Alignment of the sun, earth and moon, e.g.) is given an astronomical definition; however, it has a broader meaning, as defined in Webster’s:

Beyond that, this crossword puzzle’s entries are like bumper cars at an amusement park -- BATTY (4D. Loco) and CRAZED (48D. Loco), the requisite Shortzesque twin clues are a good definition. Can’t remember seeing KALKAN (2D. Brand name in dog food) and OSAKAN (8D. Resident of Japan’s “second city”) on the same page. Bashing about are JAG and ZAG, LIZ and IZE, UGH and URN, EWOK and EXES, EZRA and UZI, and the wee and wild PYX ramming about with TANYA, TARTAN, TASK, TECHNO, TOJO, TUNES and TYPE, leaving the only other long entries, JACOBITE (11D. Supporter of the House of Stuart) and LAGRANGE (39D. Georgia city or college), IDLING (3D. In neutral) in a LAZE (10D. Loll).

This puzzle also HADAGO (14A. Tried one’s hand [at]) such fare as The Beatles’ “I Am the WALRUS” (23A.) and WAGERS (34D. Exactas and trifectas); SKIBUM (1A. No stranger to the slopes) and SHASTA (1D. Daisy developed by Luther Burbank); NEWLINE (33A. “Lord of the Rings” studio); New Jersey’s MCGUIRE Air Force Base (43A.); RETINA (27D. Eye part); RUPAUL (40D. Drag performer with a wax likeness in New York’s Madame Tussauds) and ALEXEI (25D. Only son of Czar Nicholas II); AIRDRY (32D. Hang on the line) and SERUMS (35D. Blood fluids) -- rounding out with OBEYED (68D. Followed orders), “JINGLE Bells” (65A.), BLARED (41A. Trumpeted) and EUROPE (44A. It was divided by the Iron Curtain).

About that bumper car analogy -- one last look -- HERE!

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

04.28.08

NECKING

Monday, April 28, 2008

Puzzle by Gary Disch, edited by Will Shortz

NECKING (41A. Making out … or a hint to this puzzle’s four hidden articles of clothing), along with ROOMSTOLET (17A. Boardinghouse sign); NOVASCOTIA (64A. Halifax’s home); ANTIELITE (11D. Favoring common folk) and NASCARFAN (34D. Daytona 500 enthusiast), are this Monday back-to-work crossword inter-related entries.

Whoa! This is certainly minimal clothing -- stole, ascot, tie, scarf -- sounds like formal wear at a nudist colony. Other articles of “clothing” (or the lack of it) in the puzzle include SASH (1A. “Miss America” might be printed on one); LOADS (57D. Laundry units) and naturally, NUDE (41D. Michelangelo’s David, e.g.).

The TANGLE (25A. Snarled mess) of the Monday commute could easily lead off this puzzle’s rubber- NECKING plethora of crosswordese with the six-letter group including NEPALI (23A. Katmandu resident); PREVUE (35A. Sneak peek: Var.); UNSEAL (44A. Open, as an envelope); ACETIC (50A. Vinegary); THRALL (54A. Slave); BEAGLE (10D. Snoopy, for one); ICEAGE (47D. Time of advancing glaciers); preceded by two seven-letter entries: HYMNALS (4D. Church songbooks) and PERGOLA (45D. Shaded passageway).

Five-letter entries include ALTAR, ANIME, AROSE, ASONE, CAPOS, COVEN, GRECO, INPEN, IGLOO, IVORY, LOIRE, LUCID, OMEGA, PILOT, RELAX, SARAN, SETON, STOOP, SYNOD, TANGS, UNLIT.

Four-letter: ALFA, ALTO, ANON, ARES, ARTY, ASPS, ATOP, AVOW, BABA, BOON, CARE, CASH, CHIC, ENOS, GINS, GREG, HONE, LANA, LARD, LICE, NOGO, PEAL, PEAS, PUNS, SELA, STAG, URDU, VIAL, WACO.

Three-letter: ADS, CAT, EKE, ERA, ISM, SOD and TEA.

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

04.27.08

Oops!

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Puzzle by Oliver Hill, edited by Will Shortz

Perhaps in anticipation that this crossword puzzle would not be dreary or tedious enough, there are ten across entries deliberately misspelled, which along with IMPROPERLYSPELLED (65A. Like the answers to the 10 asterisked clues, more often than any other English words, according to a 1999 study) are today’s little spelling bee lesson of inter-related entries.

MILLENIUM (26. *Long, long time) = millennium; INNOCULATE (32. *Stick with a needle, maybe) = inoculate; EMBARASSMENT (34. *Absence at a nudist colony?) = embarrassment; HARRASSES (44. *Bugs) = harasses; MINISCULE (51. Wee) = minuscule (however, Webster‘s has miniscule as an alternate spelling); NOTICABLE (82. *Conspicuous) = noticeable; SUPERCEDE (87. *Supplant) = supersede; PERSEVERENCE (94. *Doggedness) = perseverance; ACCOMODATE (97. *Oblige) = accommodate; OCCURENCE (107. *Event) = occurrence.

I just had a war with my spell-check function while typing the above.

Saturday’s puzzle offered us CURATESEGG (18A. Something damned with faint praise, in British lingo); today’s gives us CURES (99D. Parish priests) and VICARS (96D. Parish priests) -- very Shortzesque -- Heavens (114D. SKY) and then “Heavens!” (109D. EGAD) -- well it is Sunday!

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For an additional cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

04.27.08 -- the Acrostic

Dog Show -- the Acrostic

Sirius Rex, 1984, photo by Donald
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Sunday, April 27, 2008

Acrostic Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

One might encounter some difficulty in locating a copy of “The Pant Glas Story” by Elma Williams, but today’s acrostic allows us a glimpse in the form of a quotation from same:

Quotation: DOGS WAVE TAILS IN SEVERAL INDICATIVE WAYS THERE IS THE WIDE SWEEP OF EXPECTANCY OR THE MORE VIGOROUS MOVEMENT OF GREETING OR TAIL UNDER TUMMY A SUBTERRANEAN WAGGLE WHICH CAN BE PLEASURE TINGED WITH GUILT OR FEAR.

Author’s name and title of the work: ELMAWILLIAMSPANTGLASSTORY

The defined words: A. Top-level canines, EYETEETH; B. TV role for eight generations of one acting family, LASSIE; C. 1812 invention featuring a pendulum, METRONOME; D. Swift hunter or colorful cover, AFGHAN; E. Yarn used in weaving bark, WOOF; F. Nobel scientist with canine experiments, IVANPAVLOV; G. Stuff to be picked up; group from which to make a pick?, LITTER; H. Wrapping that may make a pill more palatable to a canine, LIVERWURST; I. “Come Back, Little Sheba” author, INGE; J. Valley around Leeds, England, AIREDALE; K. Like the hairless breed Xoloitzcuintli, MEXICAN; L. Human pal of Scooby-Doo, SHAGGY; M. Half-pint, run, miniature, PEEWEE; N. “The Call of the Wild” genre, ADVENTURE; O. Ratter from East Anglia, for short, NORWICH; P. Regarded as a faithful friend, TRUSTED; Q. Like an Irish wolfhound or St. Bernard, GIANT; R. Shade of a beagle’s ears, often (2 wds.), LIGHTBROWN; S. First character to recognize Odysseus upon his return, ARGUS; T. Four-legged Monopoly token, SCOTTIE; U. Shook, trembled, vibrated, SHIMMIED; V. Playful struggle for dominance (3 wds.), TUGOFWAR; W. Kind of school where students may learn to beg, OBEDIENCE; X. St. Bernard’s job description?, RESCUER; Y. Cry of complaint from a pound, YAWP.

I'll not argue with "Argus", but I cannot find "Argos" with that alternate spelling -- however, Wikipedia gives us this beautiful little paragraph:

In Greek mythology, Argos was Odysseus’ faithful dog. He waited for his master's return to Ithaca for over twenty years while most presumed Odysseus dead. He was the first (after those to whom Odysseus revealed his identity) to recognize the King returning from the Trojan War, even though Odysseus was disguised as a beggar to discover what had been going on in his palace during his absence. It was said that as soon as Argos recognized his master, he dropped his ears and did his best to wag his tail. Having fulfilled his destiny of faith by laying his eyes upon his master once more, he released a final whimper and died.