02.11.09

K? ...nein!

Stump, a Sussex Spaniel, Best of Show, Westminster

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Puzzle by Richard Silvestri, edited by Will Shortz

WHAT A CROC (17A. Comment at the reptile exhibition?), PAC ANIMAL (62A. Bruin, Golden Bear or Wildcat?), TAKE YOUR PIC (10D. Command to a photog?) and DOC OF THE BAY (24D. Horse vet?) are the interrelated entries of this Wednesday crossword -- subtracting a K from crock, pack, pick and dock is the conceit. Incidentally, for reasons of my own, before reading the clue, I contemplated entering DOG OF THE DAY! Why? Well, last paragraph…

Links for the day -- ANAPEST (5D. Bit of a limerick); OSWALD (28D. Ruby’s victim); KEMAL, JOWLS (1D. Bloodhounds have big ones), EARS (1D. Bloodhounds have big ones), LOBO, SKYE (36A. Terrier type).

Just watched two nights of the Westminster Dog Show, so all the references to dogs and body parts in today‘s crossword, uh, how can I explain?… HERE!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

02.10.09

UNderline

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Puzzle by John Underwood, edited by Will Shortz

A dozen nations are featured as interrelated clues with underline entries in today’s crossword -- 1. Turkish BATH, 5. Dutch TREAT, 20. Russian ROULETTE, 22. Swiss CHEESE, 34. Australian CRAWL, 35. American ELM, 41. Italian ICE, 42. Canadian BACON, 55. Danish PASTRY, 57. Portuguese MANOFWAR, 66. French TOAST and 67. Spanish RICE. The underline (fill-in-the-blank) clue is no lazy clue today!

A few links: ARMYANT (43D. Tiny marcher); HOMESTEAD (11D. Locale for a pioneer family); THECROW (9D. Brandon Lee’s last movie); VERISMO (51A. Operatic movement circa 1900); HAOLE (23D. Outlander in Hawaii); EMU and ERNE; XMEN (19A. Superheroes battling the evil Magneto).

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

02.09.09

TV

Bush TV22, 1950

Monday, February 9, 2009

Puzzle by Randall J. Hartman, edited by Will Shortz

TV SET -- 41A. Boob tube (and a hint to 17- and 65-Across and 11- and 30-Down) --- along with TWO VIRGINS (17A. 1968 album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono), TRADER VICS (65A. Polynesian-themed restaurant chain), TRIAL VENUE (11D. Courtroom) and TRAVEL VISA (30D. Document checked at the border) -- are the interrelated entries of this Monday crossword.

Three links today -- STEELERS (51A. 2009 Super Bowl champs); EDGAR Allan Poe; IDOL.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

02.08.09

PJ's

Sunday, February 8, 2009

PAJAMA PARTY, Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld, edited by Will Shortz

TITLE (53D. “Pajama Party,” e.g.).

This Sunday’s crossword features nine two-word entries, the first starting with the letter P and the second, J -- 23A. PETROLEUM JELLY, 33A. PARACHUTE JUMP, 52A. PRACTICAL JOKE, 70A. PICKLE JAR, 90A. PETER JENNINGS, 105A. POETIC JUSTICE, 122A. PINEAPPLE JUICE, 42D. PAPA JOHNS, and 49D. PLAIN JANE (Hardly a beauty queen).

Other entries of length include ANAISNIN, ARSONIST, DRONESON, ELECTRIC, ELEMENT, ELILILLY, ENFAMILLE, JAYLENO, LEASERS, MDDEGREE, MONEYMEN, NEARERTO, ONALERT, OOLALA, PENPALS, PSYCHOS, SLURPED, STAREAT, TALLORDER, TRIBECA, TROLLEY, UNSPENT (69D. Like money in the bank).

Mid-size entries -- AFTRA, AMENRA, ASHIER, AWOKE, BANJO, CROON, ELIDE, ELIHU, EMPTY, ESSEN, ESTEE, FARER, FELLOW, GETAT, ICHOR, INEPT, IPODS, JEERS, LATINI, MARITA, MOSES, NAVAL, NITERY, NOLAN, NONAME, OFNOTE, OLMEC, ONSETS, OPART, ORTON, OTERA, PEPYS, PRECIP, PULPS, RACER, RELIC, REMOP, SEIZE, SHARE, SNERT, SOPHIE, SOURS, STEINS, SWAMP, TAMMI, TERRE, TOTEM, TYPOS, VCHIPS, YPRES (26A. W.W. I battle site in Belgium).

Short stuff -- AARP, AJA, ALGA, ANN, AOL, APSE and APPS, BIND, BLUR, DAW, DEWY, DOPE, EADS, EPA and EPI, ELEE and ELS, EZER, HEM, HIHO, HUT, ICI, JOAD and JOCK, JAL and JAM, JAL and JUL, KEY, LIMB, LIT, MAAM, MASK, MOES, NCAA, NEBR, NEW, NIL, OEDS, OKS, OOHS, PIAF, PROP, RNS, ROES, RON, SALA, SCH, SERT, SHA, SIT, SLR and SML, SSRS, SYST, TEAK, UPS, YAYS (130A. Triumphant cries).

Whoopee…

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

02.07.09

Puzzle

Oedipus and the Sphinx -- 5th c. BC Attic cup by Douris

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Puzzle by Pete Muller, edited by Will Shortz

A dozen ten-letter entries, three in each corner of the puzzle, are the main feature of this Saturday crossword -- upper right across, SMARTDRUGS, PENTHOUSES, LATEDINNER -- lower right down, FOUNDATION, IDEALISTIC, BARRELROLL -- lower left across, LIVEINMAID, OCEANBORNE, ROCKGARDEN -- upper left down, SEXOBJECTS, ABERRATION, MONTECARLO.

Mid-size entries -- BREVITY; DOINGIN; JACOBS; REDDEN; RIDDLE; LEMONSODA; SETSAIL; SPLITS; TALKING; TOLDTALES.

Five-letter -- 31A. The Louvre's Salles des ETATS; FEVER; FRANK; LALAW; LUNAR; MEATY; MIMES; NEARS; RAVES; RUNES; SCUDS; SEINE; SNEAK; VOTED.

Short stuff -- AJAR, ANTZ, AVEC, CARD, CEDE, CIRE, CUER, EBON, ENA, ENCL, FIB, FIFI, FLOR, GEER, LITE, MOR, MUGS, NBA, ORT, RAJA, RIBS, RICO, RITZ, ROIL, RTE, SAME, SLAW, SNO, SSRS, THD, TITO, TOIL, TRE, TSR, UFOS, USNA, XENA.

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

For the complete post, go HERE.

02.06.09

Ode to an ODA

Light of the Harem, 1880, Lord Frederick Leighton

Friday, February 6, 2009

Puzzle by Frederick J. Healy, edited by Will Shortz

“The vanity of others runs counter to our taste only when it runs counter to our vanity“ -- Friedrich Nietzsche

For today's post, go HERE.

02.05.09

Image

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Puzzle by David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz

NAACP IMAGE AWARD (7D. Annual entertainment honor), and seven names of individuals who have received the award -- JAMIE FOXX, ALICIA KEYS, ASHANTI, DELLA REESE, BERNIE MAC, FANTASIA and SPIKE LEE -- are the interrelated entries of this Thursday crossword. The Awards will be held this year on February 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

Two more links -- a mouse and a moose: 56A. “Steamboat WILLIE,” first Mickey Mouse cartoon, MOOSE (34A. One with a long face?).

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

For the complete post, go HERE.