11.07.07

A Busy Harbor

A Busy Harbor -- Thomas Bonar Lynn

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Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Puzzle by Richard Chisholm, edited by Will Shortz

TWOKINDSOFBOATS (38A What 18-, 23-, 55- and 63-Across each comprises), along with LOVELIFE (18A Romantic goings-on); HOUSEPARTY (23A Tupperware sale event); ICEFISHING (55A Catching cold?); and AIRSPEED (63A Cockpit datum) are today’s inter-related entries, four giving forth eight types of boats: LOVE BOAT, LIFEBOAT, HOUSEBOAT, PARTY BOAT, ICEBOAT, FISHING BOAT, AIRBOAT, and SPEEDBOAT.

Six-space entries include LIAISE (4D Act as a go-between); KENNEL (5D Boarding site); PRONTO (8D Chop-chop); ENVOYS (9D Embassy figures); PIPETS (47D Lab tubes); SCHEME (48D Intrigue); LEGATO (19D Smooth, musically); KANSAS (39D Toto’s home); ESCORT (50D Debutante’s date); SHUTIN (51D Confined); CHALKS (1A Scores, as with a victory, with “up”); LADIES (14A Door sign); ASIANS (17A Mongol horde, e.g.); MOTIVE (65A Whodunit plot element); IRISES (68A Spring bloomers); and ATNINE (71A When many stores open).

Five-space entries: STEIN (20A “Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” writer); UTICA (34A Erie Canal city); SIXAM (43A Early time to rise); CUTIE (62A Good-looker); CLASH (1D Don’t go together); HASTO (2D Must); ADIEU (3D It means “Go with God”); EULER (7D Calculus pioneer); CAIRO (11D Where “Aida” premiered); ALFIE (12D Jude Law title role); TEENS (13D Many Justine Timberlake fans); RAVED (Was incoherent); OLAFS (41D Five Norse kings); BLAND (52D Short on flavor); OPINE (53D Say one’s piece); OGRES (54D Shrek’s ilk); ITISI (57D Answer to “Who’s there?”); NIVEN (58D David of Pink Panther movies); and GEESE (59D Foie gras sources).

Four-space entries: ACES, ATME, BOOS, ELEV, EPEE, ERIN, FOCI, GOES, LPGA, NAPS, OSHA, PENN, PHIS, RENO, URNS and YSER. Three-space leftovers: ALE, CAT, CTR, DES, ESE, ESP, HUB, IAN, IMA, LOX, MIA, NNE, NRA, PAY, PLO, SSS, STL, STS, and TWI. That’s a lot of fill, but whatever makes your boat float

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

10.06.07

5

I Saw the Figure Five in Gold, Charles Demuth (1883-1935) United States, oil on composition board, 36” x 29 1/4”, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; NYC, 1928. The painting was inspired by the poem, "The Great Figure," written by the artist's friend William Carlos Williams

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Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Puzzle by John Underwood, edited by Will Shortz

Is that a digitalesque black-square depiction of the number five in the center of the grid? -- looks like it!

There are six other fives in this crossword:

FIVESTARGENERAL (17A Eisenhower was one); FIVEBELLS (23A 2:30, aboard ship); TAKESFIVE (49A Rests for a bit); QUARTERPASTFIVE (57A Shortly after quitting time, for many); FIVECENTS (3D Nickel); and GIMMEFIVE (32. Request for a congratulatory slap).

Across: 1. Home in an old warehouse district; 5. Virus named for a river; 10. Trans-Siberian Railroad stop; 14. Peculiar: Prefix; 15. U.S./Canada early warning syst.; 16. City bond, for short; 17. Eisenhower was one; 20. Move unsteadily; 21. Delon of “Purple Noon”; 22. Cedar Rapids college; 23. 2:30, aboard ship; 27. Dele undoers; 29. Something new; 30. Ho Chi Minh’s capital; 31. Boris Godunov, for one; 32. Rove, with “about”; 35. Full range; 37. It’s off the tip of Italy; 40. Bad-mouth; 41. GULF war syndrome; 45. NOMDE plume; 46. Chiang Kai-shek’s capital; 48. Mountain cats; 49. Rests for a bit; 52. Singleton; 53. “Waiting for Lefty” playwright; 54. Like Dickens’s Dodger; 57. Shortly after quitting time, for many; 62. Forearm bone; 63. Shul V.I.P.; 64. Pizzeria fixture; 65. Hot times in France; 66. Befuddled; 67. Try for a role.

Down: 1. Brit’s elevator; 2. Garfield’s foil; 3. Nickel; 4. Slugging it out; 5. ENTR’acte; 6. Feathery wrap; 7. Bobby of the Bruins; 8. Dillydally; 10. Brunch dish; 11. Wall art; 12. Symbol of slowness; 13. Ceramists’ baking chambers; 18. Welcomes, as a guest at one’s home; 19. Catches red-handed; 23. Jack Sprat’s taboo; 24. Hypotheticals; 26. Blunders; 27. Outbuilding; 28. Vehicle with a medallion; 32. Request for a congratulatory slap; 33. Pierce player; 34. Gray concealers; 36. End-of-workweek cry; 38. At a cruise stop; 39. Be worth; 42. AP competitor; 43. “My Name is Asher LEV”; 44. “For shame!”; 46. Colorful fishes; 47. Helper: Abbr.; 49. Brimless cap; 50. At least 21; 51. “The Family Circus” cartoonist Bil; 54. Home to most Turks; 55. Iris’s place; 56. Libraries do it; 58. Big Band ERA; 59. Turn state’s evidence; 60. “Sesame Street” channel; 61. Honest ABE.

...and the red fire truck?!

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

11.05.07

J. J. J.

Cover to Spider-Man's Tangled Web #20, featuring J. Jonah Jameson. Art by Dean Haspiel.

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Monday, November 5, 2007

Puzzle by Jeremy Horwitz, edited by Will Shortz


JALFREDPRUFROCK (17A T.S. Eliot title character who measures out his life with coffee spoons); JJONAHJAMESON (39A Editor out to smear Spider-Man); and JDANFORTHQUAYLE (61A Vice president who once famously mashed "potato") are three loosely, very loosely, inter-related entries in this Monday back-to-work crossword puzzle -- too bad we don't know Jeremy Horwitz' middle name, we could throw him in with this sorry trio and have ourselves a quartet! That would even it out between the real and the fictional names, Prufrock and Jameson, Quayle and Horwitz -- or maybe Quayle never really existed anyway, so he is fiction! Whatever, and if anyone calls this a "theme", I'll just roll over with laughter at such a ridiculous pretension. Go ahead, I need a g-g-good j-j-joke!

J. Jonah Jameson was also referred to as J. J. Jameson and simply J. J. J. -- no identification of the first J. seems to be available. Research on J. Alfred Prufrock does not identify his J. either; but, of course, J. Danforth Quayle was James. O.K., I think that exhausts today's J's. Wait!, here's the Prufrock lament --
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.

If those who categorize crossword puzzles into “theme”/”no-theme” get insistent, then a “theme” today would seem to be not those three meager J’s, but a capital “E” for “Entertainment!”

This puzzle has no less than 22 entries that are related to the arts and entertainment: 1A “Lady Marmalade” singer PATTI LaBelle; RIFF (6A Musical phrase); 15A Poet OMAR Khayyam; 17A; MOE (22A “The Simpsons” bartender); ONAIR (26A Studio sign); ANDIE (29A Actress MacDowell of “Groundhog Day”); URI (34A Geller with a spoon-bending act); 39A; LEOTARD (43A Dance class outfit); ODES (68A Lyric poems); AVALON (2D Frankie of “Beach Blanket Bingo”); RODEO (6D Where you might hear “Ride ‘em, cowboy!”); FRUG (9D Lively ‘60s dance); SANJOSE (24D California city in a 1968 Dionne Warwick hit); 28A RIN Tin Tin; IPOD (30D Its first ad touted “1,000 songs in your pocket”); ERMA (33D Humorist Bombeck); LALA (36D Singsong syllables); JIMI (39D Guitarist Hendrix); TOON (57D Roger Rabbit or Donald Duck); and JLO (61D Female singer’s 2001 album that debuted at #1). Now, that’s entertainment!

Oh lovely, but lonely Jennifer Lopez -- stuck down in the corner as fill for J. Danforth Quayle -- is this supposed to equal equal rights for the ladies with a meager three letter entry -- JLO?

The rest of the acrosses: 10. On the briny; 14. Birdlike; 16. Butter slices; 20. Not just recent; 21. Muck; 23. Light throw; 32. Really impressed; 35. Light golden lager; 38. ULAN Bator, Mongolia; 42. Parti-colored; 44. Quantity: Abbr.; 45. Sheep cries; 46. Rapids transits (which I at first entered RAILS); 50. A goose egg; 52. Phobia; 55. Unfortunate sound when you bend over; 56. Hay storage locale; 58. Saw-toothed; 65. Come to shore; 66. Baby bassoon?; 67. War horse; 69. Puppy bites; and 70. Sexy nightwear.

The down remainders: 1. PAJAMA party (sleepover); 3. Cultivated the soil; 4. President who later served as chief justice; 5. Initials on a cross; 7. Little devil; 8. Distant; 10. Kitchen spill catcher; 11. Brazil’s largest city; 12. And so on: Abbr.; 13. “ASK and ye shall receive”); 18. CPR pro; 19. Grocery offering; 25. Accumulation on the brow; 27. Persia, today; 31. German article; 37. Grain bundle; 38. Beef quality graders: Abbr.; 40. 747, e.g.; 41. Be mistaken; 42. La PAZ, Bolivia; 45. Hit, as on the noggin; 47. Worn at the edges; 48. Like the Marquis de Sade or the Duke of Earl; 49. Rapid; 51. Unilever skin cream brand; 53. Fireplace remnants; 54. Necessary: Abbr.; 59. Corrosion sign; 60. Appraise; 62. “Dear old” guy; 63. Slugger’s stat; and 64. Blouse or shirt.

All in all, a j-j-jazzy little puzzle filled with interesting entries, and the tired entries are given fresh clues -- a Monday breakfast puzzle, thankfully with no O.J.J.J!

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

11.04.07

ENDONEND

Conjoined twin sisters from the Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493
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Sunday, November 4, 2007

COMMON ENDS -- Puzzle by Bob Klahn, edited by Will Shortz

The “common ends" referred to in the “title” of this thing refer to the front end and the rear end of eight entries sharing three-letters, hence “common ends”, as follows:

ONTHEWATERFRONT (23A Best Picture of 1954);
OVERANDABOVE (33A In addition to);
DELUXEMODEL (59A High-end version of a product);
TONIBRAXTON (80A Singer with the 1996 #1 hit “You’re Makin’ Me High”);
OBIWANKENOBI (106A Role for Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor);
HOWARDSTERNSHOW (116A Broadcast with Baba Booey, with "The");
LESSERANTILLES (16D Where to find the Windward and Leeward Islands); and
ARTICHOKEHEART (50D Fancy salad ingredient).

Usually, a title that hints at a device or gimmick in the puzzle is scrutable at some point -- however, I found myself at the end of the solution just staring at this thing, saying what?!

The vagueness of the title's supposed "clue" permeates this crossword puzzle.

Across: 1. Ring regulator: Abbr.; 4. State secrets; 8. Argosy; 14. “The Perfect Fool” composer; 19. Cupcake; 20. Anise-flavored aperitif popular in Turkey and the Balkans; 21. Tan shades; 22. Have because of; 23. Best Picture of 1954; 26. Four-time Indy winner; 27. Not turned up; 28. Half-Betazoid on “Star Trek: T.N.G.”; 29. Olympic troublemaker; 31. Asian honorific; 32. Skin; 33. In addition to; 37. Boise-to-Billings dir.; 38. One whose business is taking off?; 40. It’s done; 41. Burlesques; 43. Descry; 45. Nursery nappy; 47. Doll in “A Doll’s House”; 48. Biblical name meaning “laughter” ; 51. “Hollywood Squares” line; 53. Six-pointer, perhaps; 55. It’s spotted on a ranch; 58. Swampy; 59. High-end version of a product; 63. Berenstain of kid-lit’s Berenstain Bears; 64. L.A. summer setting; 65. Took one’s first steps; 66. Ring Lardner title character; 68. “Sweet LEILANI” (1937 Oscar song); 70. Worry; 73. “Anne of Green Gables” setting; 74. True; 76. Looked for; 78. First name in chillers; 79. Casual denials; 80. Singer with the 1996 #1 hit “You’re Makin’ Me High”; 83. Row between houses?; 84. Lovers’ plight; 86. Reign; 87. Lose liquidity; 88. Topping made with pine nuts; 89. It should be even; 91. Snap; 93. Zigzag; 96. French mime; 99. Master of the double take?; 101. Showy climber; 105. Oh of Cologne; 106. Role for Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor; 109. Receiver of a brush-off?; 110. At birth; 111. Transcontinental bridge, e.g.: Abbr.; 112. City near Carson National Forest; 113. Gut feeling; 114. Full speed ahead; 116. Broadcast with Baba Booey, with “The”; 121. Champagne department; 122. French “White House”; 123. Jerk; 124 Bath suds; 125. Starting pay?; 126. One on a quest; 127. For the second time; 128. Key of cartooning.

Down: 1. Cousin of “uh-oh”; 2. British hood; 3. Buck topper; 4. Steep; 5. Bar code?; 6. Sometimes called; 7. Arctic; 8. Out of the country; 9. Tasteful; 10. Salyut 7’s successor; 11. What “syne” means; 12. With Altair and Vega, it forms the Summer Triangle; 13. Colt .45s, today; 14. Santa’s landing site; 15. Where to find the Windward and Leeward Islands; 17. “A Sentimental Journey” author; 18. Disraeli and Churchill; 24. Eve’s follower; 25. Go off; 30. One of the Brothers Karamazov; 33. Elect; 34. Civic center?; 35. Voltaire’s religious view; 36. Heighten; 39. Iron pumper’s target; 42. In film, gradual appearance of an image through an expanding circle; 44. Bride in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”; 46. When repeated twice, et cetera; 48. Fix firmly; 49. Brandy + orange liqueur + lemon juice; 50. Fancy salad ingredient; 52. Symbols of strength; 54. Tuscan treat; 56. Sign inside a restaurant; 57. Common baseball count; 59. Oscar winner as Mr. Chips; 60. Copy righter? 61. Annual literary prize since 1946; 62. Jazz (up); 65. Salt; 67. Physique, slangily; 69. Brilliance; 71. Boodle; 72. Subject of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution; 75. Ample, to Li’l Abner; 77. “You’re gonna pay!”; 81. Moviedom’s Massey; 82. Back; 83. Misses, e.g.; 85. Batgirl and Wonder Woman; 88. Brit. To an Aussie; 90. Soft shots; 92. Symbol of strength; 94. Neighbor of Greece: Abbr.; 95. Kona keepsake; 96. Summer topper; 97. Block buster?; 98. Gives religiously?; 100. Tumble; 102. Doughboy’s topper; 103. Oxford pad; 104. Stinko; 107. Intact; 108. Rebuffs; 113. Bamboozle; 115. Carol ending?; 117. Ex follower; 118. It’s all you have to do sometimes; 119. Slice of history; 120. Deli slice.

A little vague? It was just end on end!

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

11.03.07

Caveat venditor!

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Puzzle by Brad Wilber, edited by Will Shortz

Not another AUCTIONEER (15A Hammer wielder), yesterday described as (55A Block head?)! Yet, there he is! Who sent him? What will the outcome of his outcry become? Watch your words! This is a fire sale! Yesterday he was looking for the highest bidder, today he’s looking for the quickest sale!

Little wonder, he’s got some real oddities and a few loose ends sitting on the PRIZETABLE (53A Place for trophies at an awards luncheon) that look a little second-hand! Searching in the dark of this puzzle with a FLASHLIGHT (1A Sleuthing aid), one finds a VIRALVIDEO (17A YouTube phenomenon), well, we’re not buying that! How about a TSETSE (21A Safari hazard) -- no way! A STATICLINE (27D Alternative to a rip cord) -- what condition is it in? Does this guy have any STREETCRED (14A Homey’s acceptance) or is that LOADED (40D Like some questions)?

The vendor of this crossword had best get out the markdown slips -- the solver may have trouble reading them! Curious clues include PENNE (37A Food also called mostaccioli); LEGS (20A Walk-on parts?); PASTRY (25A Napoleon, e.g.); EST (35A Record finish?), you know like “high-est”, etc.; MOLARS (43A Grinders); GOAT (44A One might be kidding); SAND (22D Inards of some clocks); SKEET (24D Earth-shattering activity?); SWINE (28D Coarse type); and WOOZY (42D Vertiginous).

It could be doubted his hammer will ever hit the block, but here’s a list of the goods:

Acrosses (priced to move quickly):

ABCS (11. Early education); BAHT (16. Bangkok currency); STAR witness (18.); LALO (23. “Rhapsodie norvegienne” composer); STANLEE (24. Co-creator of Hulk and Thor), hey, they co-starred; SKINTEST (28. Allergist’s procedure); ENTRY (29. Lexicon listing); TWEED (30. Relative of homespun); MCC (31. Century-ending Middle Ages year); PDAS (32. Modern organizers, briefly); TRIER (33. Judge, e.g.); DEER (34. Skittish wildlife); ARENT (36 Fail to be); LOISLANE (38. Fictional Pulitzer-winning journalist in a 2006 film); LASTED (40. Didn’t fizzle); ETCHANT (41. Aquatinting acid); WORK (42. Succeed); CPO (45. U.S.C.G. rank); OBIS (48. “Madama Butterfly” wear); EURODISNEY (49. Much-anticipated Paris debut of 1992); KENT (52. Colleague of 38-Across); ODEA (54. Concert venues); and TINYDANCER (55. 1971 Elton John song).

Mark Downs:

FAVA (1. Kind of bean); SAN (51. With 2-Down, seat of Costilla County, Colo.); LUIS (2. See 51-Down); ACRE (3. Plot segment); STA (4. Where folks go off and on: Abbr.); HILLARY (5. “View From the Summit” memoirist); LOVELY (6. Swell); INIGO Lopez de Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (7.); GEDS (8. People may get them before going to coll.); TEE (9. Part of a giggle); TROTTIER (10. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Bryan); ABSENT (11. Not in the picture); BATTLEMENT (12. Archer’s post); CHASESCENE (13. Action thriller staple); LTRS (23. Posts: Abbr.); PEPELEMOKO (25. Casbah fugitive of French film); ANDSOTOBED (26. Noted diary words); TRENT Canal (connector of lakes Ontario and Huron)(30.); TRANSEPT (33. It intersects the nave); DESK (34. Secretary, e.g.); ALAR (36. Garden no-no, now); PARTITA (37. One of six pieces by Bach); SHASTA (39. Daisy variety); GRIN (44. Wink accompanier); CNBC (45. “Power Lunch” channel); PELE (46. Legendary kicker); OYER (47. Legal hearing); and URI (50. Sch. In Kingston).

Mind you, just because it’s the second auction this weekend, it doesn’t mean the goods are anything less than first-rate -- it’s just that you may have already spent your gray matter on matters that mattered yesterday!

Get ‘em while they‘re hot!

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

11.02.07

Caveat emptor!

Detail of colored etching and aquatint, "Christie's Auction Room", by Thomas Rowlandson & Augustus Charles Pugin from The Microcosm of London, Volume 1 (London: R. Ackerman, 1810). Photographic Services & Permissions

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Friday, November 2, 2007

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk, edited by Will Shortz

Picture, if you will, the AUCTIONEER (55A Block head?) with the remains of the day -- it's his job to dress these items up with a hopefully appealing description and then hold the open outcry auction in hopes of enriching the estate. In this case, our items appear to be from a dead puzzle constructor, and it's clues are all hustle and bustle -- caveat emptor!

The best stuff has already gone out the door this week and what‘s left has been dressed up real pretty to sell; here’s the clues being pitched by our tireless hucksters from the puzzle department at the Times -- first let’s get the easy-movers out of the way:

We’re going across, who’ll give me 1. He had a hit with “The Joint Is Jumpin’”; one, I got one, who’ll give me, fifteen -- 15. First #1 hit by the Beach Boys; 17. City on the Transcontinental Railroad; 21. Taylor of Mystic Pizza”; 28. One of a primer pair; 34. El relative, it's a LOS; 43. Premium chargers, briefly, we got HMOS; 44. Like a well-maintained SEEDED lawn; 46. NON- Discriminatory leader?; 50. Fermentation locations; 53. 19th-century territorial capital; 57. Delivery possibility, it's a GIRL!; 58. Committed a sports no-no; sold!

Going down: 1. Internet Explorer alternative, give me FIREDOG or FIREFOX, who’ll give me 2. Facial feature, later in life, do I have a WRINKLE?, no?; do I have three?; 3. Carpenter, at times; 7. Hippie happenings; 8. African city of 2.5+ million founded by the Portuguese; 9. Infinite; 10. Food figs.; 11. Hanging setting, I have a WALL, who’ll give me a bid on the WALL?; check your 12. Big name in credit reports; and it’s 13. Greyhounds may run in it; we got 14. Wilde things?; 23. “See ya!”; and over here 30. They’re known for head-turning; do I have a 35. Fictional doctor; 36. “This is no joke!”; ho! We got 38. It was first observed in 1846; and 41. Group that starred in the 1968 film “Head,” with “the”; give me 45. Establishes; how about 51. Target of heavy W.W. II bombing, 1944; 52. “That SAID…”; let’s be 53. Comfortable; this is no 56. Discount designation: Abbr. -- thank you, ladies and gentlemen, now for the best of the rest of the lot!

Caveat emptor: Going across again, we got 11. Signs of neglect; 16. Like the sea; 18. Some people have it for life; 19. Not do the rite thing?; 20. Requests for developers: Abbr.; 22. Some cabbage; 23. Dwell; 24. Much; and we’re going to take ONE STEP AT A TIME (25, 52 and 39); do I get 26. Potentate; over there for 29. They’re not originals; 31. Materials used as inert paint fillers; 33. Best people; not asking for a ZILLION but we get it from 35. Whole slew of; 47. What “y” might become, that'll be IES; 48. Driver on a ranch; 49. It’s found in a chest; 54. Organs are located in it: Abbr.; 59. Due and sei; what am I bid for 60. Succulent African shrub popular as a bonsai, sold! -- going down: 4. They’re located on organs; 5. Draw to a close, we're beginning to WANE; 6. It may come after you -- ARE?; 26. Year of St. Genevieve’s death, everyone knows, we bid DXII, and I'm not whistling "Dixie"; 27. Pitching TILTED; 28. JEST in Fun; 32. Basketful, we got a LOAD of items; 37. Letter writing, some say, oh is it ever a LOSTART!; 39. One taken in; 40. Like some surgery; 42. Match-starting cry; and as the last of the lot, we got a 49. Challenge for a shortstop -- sold to the solver with the death grip on the pen!

This Auction service is essentially provided to you free of charge, "as is" subject to the following disclaimer which may be updated from time to time without notice to you in addition to the overall DISCLAIMER.
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For today's cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

11.01.07

Synonymously Yours

Diane Arbus, zonder titel, ca. 1970, Collectie Groninger Museum

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Thursday, November 1, 2007

Puzzle by Larry Shearer, edited by Will Shortz

Dear Reader:

The clues for this crossword puzzle are intended to be printed in a single list, combining Across and Down, ultimately resulting in sixteen entries of eight synonymous pairs sharing eight clues and their numbers.

1. AVOW and AVER (Maintain); 5. AMEND and ALTER (Fiddle with); 10. GAWK and GAPE (Rubberneck); 25. DUO and DYAD (Pair); 26. EVADE and ELUDE (Dodge); 31. VIM and VERVE (Gusto); 53. APOGEE and ACME (It‘s all downhill from here); and 57. RUPTURED and RENT (Tore). The clue for 53 is the only non-synonymesque clue, but they are all Shortzesque and a sheer delight!

The electronic version detracts quite a bit from the clever gimmick, listing both Across and Down, with the clue for the number written in the Across column, and with a dash (-) after the Down clue's number to indicate that something's afoot. The notepad states: “The clues in the print version of this puzzle appear in a single list, combining Across and Down. Where two answers share a number, they also share a clue." The newspaper itself displays that same paragraph loud and clear as a lead-in note above the puzzle.

A previous version of the single-clue-list puzzle appeared in The New York Times August 23, 2007. At that time, this web log discussed the electronic vs. newspaper listings. See HERE.

The clues du jour (blank lines appear here with their entry instead):

1. Maintain; 2. In VIVO (form of research); 3. Concert halls; 4. They’re unlikely to work; 5. Fiddle with; 6. Goofed (around); 7. Quod ERAT faciendum; 8. Negative connector; 9. Spy supply; 10. Rubberneck; 11. Composition of the Spanish Main; 12. Hit the road; 13. Florida KEYS; 14. Part of Caesar’s boast; 15.
LEROI Soleil (Louis XIV); 16. “The Night of the Hunter” screenwriter; 17. First name in daredevilry; 18. Some Romanovs; 19. Runtish; 20. Motor Trend job; 21. Prohibition agents; 22. Legends; 23. Author Jaffe; 24. 2002 Literature Nobelist IMRE Kertesz; 25. Pair; 26. Dodge; 27. Sun protection; 28. All bark ANDNO bite; 29. Start of a phrase meaning “always”; 30. “Sounds like APLAN!”; 31. Gusto; 32. Put to rest; 33. Changers of 34-Across; 34. See 33-Down; 35. Cartoon character with feminine wiles; 36. Annual parade site; 37. Death jokes and such; 38. Stamp letters; 39. MALDE mer; 40. Lover of Tess in “Tess of the D’Urbevilles”; 41. Part of the Constitution after the Preamble: Abbr.; 42. N.F.L. coach who was undefeated in 1972; 43. Relative of a cod; 44. Like tennis balls and dinners; 45. Wicked witch’s home in “The Wizard of Oz”; 46. Ranch closing?; 47. Bowl; 48. Comic, e.g.; 49. N.F.L. placekicker David; 50. Fast-food franchise that started in S. Salt Lake, Ut.; 51. Squoosh; 52. Impersonator’s work; 53. It’s all downhill from here; 54. Gene group; 55. “I goofed”; 56. Delight; 57. Tore; 58. Don Juan; 59. Old Testament book; 60. Cry made with a handshake; 62. Nippy; 62. Benny Goodman’s “THESE Foolish Things”; 63. Savage; 64. Challenge for Theseus, in myth; 65. Be a gloomy Gus; 66. Radio part; 67. Pod holder; 68. Something ELSE (a wow); 69. Door; 70. Unexaggerated.

Synonymously Yours,

DONALD

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