03.07.08

Because It's There!

Friday, March 7, 2008

Puzzle by Paul Gamache, edited by Will Shortz

Sir Edmund Percival Hillary stood on top of the world on May 29, 1953, and just this year, January 11th, left this world completely at the age of 88.

CLAIMTOFAME (1A. Climbing Mt. Everest, for Sir Edmund Hillary) opens this crossword, and REGENTSPARK (48A. London Zoo locale) closes it. In between there is THEWOMANILOVE (12A. 1937 Paul Muni drama); JEALOUSMISTRESS (14A. Art metaphorically); VITALSTATISTICS (45A. Census Bureau data); and NOTATANYPRICE (47A. Only if it’s worth the trade-off). Slashing down the center of the puzzle is TAMPERRESISTANT (6D. Like most medicine bottles), something this crossword is not, which is just fine when scaling this perilous peak of a puzzle!

Other stuff across: 16. History; 17. Probe; 18. Manfred MANNS Earth Band; 19. Roman well; 20. Basic verse option; 21. Whacked; 22. Drum containers; 23. Site of the siege of Candia; 24. Feaster on frogs; 25. Legato indicator; 26. Coast Guard boat; 29. Cowboys, but not Indians; 32. Fitting decision?; 33. Clued in, once; 36. Stains; 37. Delicate; 38. Singer who is part owner of Forbes magazine; 39. First name in fragrances; 40. “In that area”; 41. Cousin in a Balzac title; 42. Cut across; 44. Reminiscent of the 1890s.

Going down: 1. Remote access?; 21. Stanford of Stanford University; 3. Base runners?; 4. Evidence that one is short; 5. A foot has 305 of these: Abbr.; 7. Things in rings; 8. Big name in college guides; 9. Old one, along the Oder; 10. Holmes fought him; 11. 50-50 proposition; 12. Hand holding; 13. Passing subject?; 14. Artist Wyeth; 15. Not lit; 19. Princess Ozma’s creator; 22. Nine ELMS (London district); 23. Bug zapper?; 25. “Dear” ones; 26. Under a quilt, say; 27. Set off; 28. “Blue II” painter, 1961; 29. It’s headquartered in the G.E. Building; 30. Sacramento suburb; 31. Global positioning system, e.g.; 33. Bit of jazz improvisation; 34. Bait; 35. Meter makers; 37. Certain inverse function; 38. Get going; 40. Honduras-to-Guatemala direccion; 41. City bombed in the gulf war; 43. Waste; 44. Rockne protégé; 46. Country singers England and Herndon.

The full quotation for 14A? "Art is a jealous mistress, and if a man has a genius for painting, poetry, music, architecture or philosophy, he makes a bad husband and an ill provider." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

DIMMEMORY (27A. It's hard to recall) tells me Sir Hillary was asked why he climbed Mt. Everest -- well, I'd guess the same reason one does a crossword puzzle -- because it’s there!

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To follow Donald's trail through the puzzle, along with link to follow Hillary's trail up Everest, go HERE!

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


To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.

03.06.08

I'm In!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Puzzle by Pamela Amick Klawitter, edited by Will Shortz

"Somewhere I'll Find You" is neither LANA (18A. Turner of “Somewhere I’ll Find You,” 1942) Turner’s best or best-known film, but it is nice to see Lana back in crosswordese -- it seems she’s been away for a long time! When it comes to Lana, well…

IMIN (57A. Poker cry … or an apt title for this puzzle) is the tie-in for the inter-related entries of PRODIGALSIMON (20A. “American Idol” judge who wastes money?); IMAGE OF CONSENT (27A. Nodding picture?); SEDIMENTARYJOB (43A. Geologist?); and GRIMACEPERIOD (51A. Moment after a bad pun?) -- that last entry is self-definitive!

ARTISTS (42D. Some colony members) like LANA worked under the roar of the MGM LION (39D. Horoscope figure) and caused the LOBO (40D. Animal that howls) to run AMOK (24D. Out of control) behaving like APEMEN (11D. Sci-fi figures).

Turner's film career began -- so the story goes -- when she was discovered sipping soda at the fountain in Schwab's Drug Store. She was dubbed "The Sweater Girl" after an on screen appearance walking down the street in a tight skirt and sweater in the appropriately titled 1937 film, “They Won't Forget." A favorite pin-up girl during World War II, Turner embodied the beautiful blonde, passionate and troubled, with a shadowy past.

DINA (8A. Actress Merrill of “Desk Set”), CONAN (29D. First name in late-night); TAM (35D. Mary Tyler Moore headwear); WIT (49A. Jon Stewart asset); “AINT No Sunshine” (1971 Grammy-winning song); and DUO (21D. Rap’s OutKast, e.g.) are the other show-biz entries. Then of course, there’s…

Across: 1. York successor; 6. Country addresses, for short; 10. Part of an Einstein equation; 14. It might start “By the way…”; 15. Lake ERIE, south of London; 16. Word with black or fire; 17. Twig broom; 19. Not yet final, in a way; 23. VAL-d’Oise (French department); 25. Directly; 26. Eskimo-ALEUT language family; 32. The anesthetic lidocaine, e.g.; 33. Obligation; 34. Barely makes, with “out”; 35. George who once led the C.I.A.; 37. Part of the foot; 41. Prefix with normal; 42. AUDIO feed; 48. D’APRES (according to: Fr.) ; 50. Spanish 30-Down; 56. Affluent, in Acapulco; 58. Some family histories; 61. Quaint exclamation; 63. Fraternity letter; 64. Start of North Carolina’s motto; 65. Binge; 66. “Lazy” one.

Down: 1. Pop-top feature; 2. Consume; 3. Bump; 4. Cause for opening a window; 5. Fix up; 6. Late-inning pitching, maybe; 7. Assault with a grenade, as a superior officer; 9. Diploma feature; 10. Crib plaything; 12. Didn’t play; 13. Italicize, say; 22. Mouthing off; 23. Reprehensible; 30. Primary figure; 31. Fruitcake; 36. Poetic conjunction; 37. Bullish order on Wall Street; 38. Deems in court; 41. Home of Galileo Galilei International Airport; 43. Small shoots; 44. Heath plants; 45. Out of fashion; 46. “Jackson”; 47. Draft contents; 48. What nouns and verbs must do; 52. Farewell in 41-Down; 53. Ruler in a kaffiyeh; 54. Pinball sound; 55. Home of Pearl City; 59. ATA loss; 60. Start of many Latin American city names.

Am I imaging things, or did Pamela Amick Klawitter manage to get her middle name in the puzzle.

That’s it… of GAS (28D. Empty talk), I’m out!

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

To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.

03.05.08

ZZZ

Pfp, ENEM
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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Puzzle by Steven Ginzburg, edited by Will Shortz

CDROMDRIVE (18A. Common computer feature); VWSCIROCCO (23A. German auto debut of 1974); JKROWLING (37A. First person to win a Smarties Prize, for children’s books, three years in a row); ABPOSITIVE (53A. Universal recipient type); and UVEXPOSURE (61A. Cause of some burns) are entries all beginning with initials in this indifferently abbreviated crossword puzzle.

Those longer initialized entries are joined by the shorter SST (11A. Plane with a machmeter: Abbr.); HMS Pinafore (64A); DIY (50D. Like many a home improvement); NBA (49A. Hoops org.); abbreviations and contractions (AGCY, CONJ, HRS, ORE, TIS, TSP, VEE, VOCAB); and the wannabe 4D. One eye in ;-), DOT, which might as well be clued in reference to Department of Transportation. The curt, the short and the terse continues with AGO, ANO, ANN, AWL, EVA, IDE, KEN, MAR, ONO, RAW, SEX, SIR, TIM and TIN, giving this crossword the feel of a graffiti lesson.

Going down, a dozen seven-letter entries occupy the four corners -- SHRIVEL (1. Turn from a grape into a raisin, e.g.); HEADWAY (2. Progress); ERNESTO (3D. Automaker Maserati); SMILEAT (11. Show friendliness); SAVINGS (12. Cash cache); TREETOP (13. “Rock-a-bye, baby” spot); TOOMUCH (40. An overdose of); INFAVOR (41. Pro); SOFTENS (42. Starts to melt); IGIVEUP (45. “You win”); DIVERSE (46. Varied); and SNEERED (47. Showed contempt).

Going across are a half-dozen six-letter entries: UPDATE (5. Software rerelease, e.g.); LEONID (15. Meteor in a meteor shower); AVALON (33. Frankie with the 1959 #1 hit “Why”); EUCLID (43. Ohio city named for a mathematician); ARISEN (66. Cropped up); and MEREST (69. Lease prominent).

Five-letter entries include YALIE (22A. Bulldog); EATON (28A. Big name in stationery); DIGIN (50A. “Eat!”); MATES (57A. Some game endings); ULCER (5D. Peptic disorder); Los Angeles’s San PEDRO Bay (6D.); DORIC (7D. Kind of column); CELLI (25D. They’re part of the string section); OVOID (26. Egg-shaped); ARUBA (33D. Dutch-speaking part of the West Indies); PAUSE (54D. Remote control button); OGRES (55D. Fairy tale baddies); and SCENT (56D. Bloodhound’s guide).

Rounding out the statistics are four-letter entries AIDS, EDDY, GAIT, HERO, HERR, LYON, MUSE, OFFS, RANT, SHED, SPAM, SPED, TERI, and WENT (27A. Departed).

IOW IMO IDK W/E KWIM ZZZ!

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

To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.

03.04.08

Wrap!

Rex Ingram (with megaphone)
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Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Puzzle by Kevin Donovan, edited by Will Shortz

THATSAWRAP (62A. Director’s cry … or a statement about 17-Across and 11- and 29-Down), along with FEATHERBOA (17A. Glam rocker’s accessory), CELLOPHANE (11D. Transparent packaging material), and BEEFFAJITA (29D. Taco alternative) are the inter-related entries of this pleasant but familiar crossword puzzle.

AMBER (12D. Color meaning “caution” on 13-Down) and ROADS (13D. See 12-Down) are joined by other loosely linked entries -- MOM (34D. Stereotypical tattoo) and SCAR (10A. Remnant of a tattoo removal, maybe); SMITE (50D. Beat, biblically) and SMASHES (10D. Overhead shots); SPAS (60A. Watering holes) and SPARSE (50A. Like trees on a prairie); ACIDS (5A. Gastric juices, e.g.) and BURP (21A. Pat on the back as a baby); GENTLE (47D. Like caresses) and SNAPAT (9D. Answer in anger).

Beyond that, this puzzle simply UNLOADS crosswordese with seven-letter entries of AEROSAL, ATEAWAY and FATCATS; six-letter ABHORS, DEBTOR, DETECT, SPARSE; five-letter ARISE, ASHEN, BOOZE, BRAVO, CUMIN, CURBS, EMOTE, FEIGN, FORCE, GOFAR, IMBUE, LEVEE, OCTET, POSIT, RATES, STREP; four-letter ACME, AHEM, ALBA, AMMO, ANEW, AREA, AURA, BRAS, CLAN, DIOR, DODO, DRAG, EARN, ETAL, EURO, EXEC, EZRA, GAFF, GOLF, HERO, IRAN, ISIS, LEAR, MEMO, MOJO, NARC, NEWT, OREO, RUES, SEAM, SLED, TITO, TRUE, URIS, YENS and four little three-letter entries (say that three times fast, along with the following!) ACE, AXE, ARE and SEE (63A. “Get it?”), which clue was also the last entry of yesterday‘s puzzle, e.g., GETIT (71A. “Savvy?”) -- O.K., o.k., I got it!

That’s a wrap!

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

To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.

03.03.08

Get Going!

Monday, March 3, 2008

Puzzle by C. W. Stewart, edited by Will Shortz

It's your friendly Monday back-to-work puzzle! GETAGRIP (18A. “Calm down!”); GETOUTOFTHEWAY (24A. “Move!”); GETTHISSTRAIGHT (39A. “Pay attention!”); GETALOADOFTHAT (49A. “Lookie there!”); GETALIFE (60A. “Oh, be serious!”); and GETIT (71A. “Savvy?”) -- those remarks brought to mind that old potboiler “What ever happened to Baby Jane?” I believe every one of the remarks in this puzzle were uttered by Bette Davis, or might as well have been, to poor dear (don’t believe it) Joan Crawford.

Large on EGO (36D. It may be puffed up), Baby Jane is putting together an ACT (10A. Series of scenes) for her return to the stage -- even though Jane sets out the CHINA (11A. Dishes for fancy meals) she’s preparing an indecent din-din for poor Joan to GAGON (49A. Not be able to swallow), and when she ATE (22D. Breakfasted, e.g.), it hardly got past a TONSIL (17A. Lump in the throat) -- UGH (31D. “Yuck!”) -- Joan gets TOTED (51D. Schlepped) by her legs when the STRONG (48D. Brawny) Jane commences to Blow AFUSE (become enraged) (47D.) -- GEE (19D. “Golly!”), everything’s TOPSY-turvy (12D.)!

Good reason to FRET (26D. Stew), this SAGA (42D. Heroic legend) could go on for EONS (23A. Years and years and years) -- after all, it’s HELL (40D. Hades) -- actually, it’s FUN (58A. Lots of laughs) and when it’s OVER (67A. Done with), only BYES (70A. Farewells) are in order -- “It’s AFACT” (“There‘s no doubt”)!

There is little relief in this aggressive puzzle; I mean HEADGEAR (34A. Cap or helmet) and HOUSESAT (43A. Cared for a home while the owner was away) together seem defensive and ANON (56A. Like many a wiseacre‘s comment: Abbr.). 28A. “If I HADA hammer…“ doesn’t help (that’s how Jane did in the maid). Sifting ashes seldom produces light, but here are the remaining clues anyway:

Across: 1. MARIE Antoinette; 6. Tallies; 13. Actress Blake or Plummer; 15. Not having a stitch on; 16. Letter before sigma; 20. Neighbor of Scot.; 21. Dabbling duck; 29. One-named Art Deco master; 30. Stephen of “The Crying Game”; 31. Bear in constellation names; 44. Pink wine; 45. Hang back; 46. Sail support; 57. Part of F.Y.I.; 64. Car model with a musical name; 66. Metalliferous rock; 68. Passes, as a law; 69. Auction motion.

Downs: 1. Crew member; 2. Honor AMONG thieves; 3. Poconos or Tetons; 4. Write-INS (some votes); 5. Manuscript receiver; 6. White, in Mexico; 7. Owing; 8. Banned insecticide; 9. Caribbean, e.g.; 10. “This way” sign; 14. Native seal hunter; 25. Parts of an udder; 27. Go like mad; 32. Rock’s REO Speedwagon; 33. Sutcliffe of the early Beatles; 34. F.D.R. successor; 35. Middle measurement; 37. Sighs of contentment; 38. Letter carrier’s assignment: Abbr..; 41. Golfer ISAO Aoki; 46. Call to a calf; 50. When to celebrate el ano Nuevo; 52. “Gimme ANA!” (frequent Alabama cheerleader’s cry); 53. Color specialists; 55. TUTTI-frutti; 59. Cartoonist Thomas; 61. High tennis shot; 62. Some Christmas greenery; 63. Doctor’s quote; 65. Scottish refusal -- NAE!

To finish this Monday madness, a song from BABY JANE!

Now, get going!

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

To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.

03.02.08

Leap Year Forward Thinking

Street Alphabet -- Ben Terrett
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Sunday, March 2, 2008

FORWARD THINKING
Puzzle by Patrick Blindauer and Tony Orbach, edited by Will Shortz

Jumping ahead this Leap Year, today’s puzzle is titled “Forward Thinking” -- replacing one letter of the alphabet with the one following in each of the thirteen across entries, utilizing the entire alphabet in order, as follows:
A/B -- KOOLBID (1. Offer for an R.J. Reynolds brand?), Kool Aid;
C/D -- DADDYSHACK (29. Papa pad?), Caddy Shack;
E/F -- GOODFATS (38. Canola and sunflower oil?), good eats;
G/H --STARHAZER (41. Best fraternity pledge tormentor?), star gazer;
I/J -- JVDRIPS (52. Not the most exciting school athletes?), IV drips;
K/L --LEGPARTY (56. Social gathering with the Rockettes?), keg party;
M/N --NIXEDDRINKS (68. Got sober?), mixed drinks;
O/P -- SPYBEANS (83. C.I.A. noggins?), soy beans;
Q/R -- POPRUIZ (85. Hit boxer John with a haymaker?), pop quiz;
S/T -- SWISSMIST (93. Fog in Zurich?), Swiss Miss;
U/V -- MILKDVDS (96. How-to-films for a dairy farm?), Milk Duds;
W/X -- LOXPROFILE (104. Side view of salmon?), low profile; and
Y/Z -- COPYBOZ (128. Transcribe some Dickens?), copy boy.

The Other Acrosses: 8. Rules, for short; 12. 1970 Simon & Garfunkel hit; 19. Away from a teaching post; 20. Forster’s “AROOM With a View”; 22. Joining; 23. Cube holder; 24. IUD part; 25. Realm of Otto von Bismarck; 26. 1802 acquisition of 25-Across; 27. Settles on, in a way; 28. Top of a platter; 29. Papa pad?; 32. Composes; 34. Org. that oversees quadrennial games; 37. Sporty Mazda; 45. Jack who said “Just the facts, ma’am”; 47. Rugged coastline feature; 48. “My!”; 49. Casual attire; 59. “Like a Rock” singer Bob; 61. Cosmetician Lauder and others; 62. Get decked out; 63. Waste maker; 65. Puts up again, as bowling pins; 67. Squiggly letter; 70. Flutter; 73. Shows past the doorstep; 75. Student of Bartok; 76. The lion in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”; 78. Clap hands on; 81. Pan-fry; 87. “THOSE Calloways” (Disney film); 89. “Damien” subtitle; 90 Mount Rigi, e.g.; 91. Head set; 100. OPTIC nerve; 102. First song on “More of the Monkees”; 103. EENIE, meenie, miney, mo; 109. “Soon It’s GONNA Rain” (“The Fantasticks” song); 111. Reliquary; 112. Temple of Isis locale; 116. Facial growths; 118. Phrase of agreement; 119. Words heard after opening a gift, maybe; 121. Hazel, e.g.; 122. Ice Cube ne OSHEA Jackson; 123. It started around 1100 B.C.; 124. Do a mailroom task; 125. Professional org.

The Downs: 1. Colorful carp; 2. Enough, for some; 3. Plaudits, of a sort; 4. “Sure, I’m game”; 5. Exposed; 6. One of Donald’s exes; 7. Susan of “Looker” 8. Train storage area; 9. ERNEST Tubb, the Texas Troubadour; 10. Nabber’s cry; 11. Rather, informally; 12. Silver prizes; 13. Physicist Fermi; 14. CIUDAD Real, Spain; 15. The “se” in per se; 16. The King’s “princess”; 17. Common past suffix; 18. Eastern title; 21. Like some Sp. Nouns; 27. “The Sopranos” Emmy winner Falco; 30. No man’s land, in brief; 31. Vladimir Putin’s onetime org.; 33. Michael of R.E.M.; 34. Wagner heroine; 35. Extras; 36. Mooches; 39. It commonly follows a verb: Abbr.; 40. Disrespect; 42. Salespeople, informally; 43. Lukas of “Witness”; 44. Sheet music abbr.; 45. Locks on a dome; 46. Chef Lagasse; 50. Cornerstone abbr.; 51. Must; 53. Winners’ signs; 54. August hrs.; 55. Some football blockers: Abbr.; 57. “See THIS?”; 58. Plane part; 60. Signs a lease; 64. “Julius Caesar” setting; 66. Deejay’s bane; 68. Classic soft drink with orange, grape and peach flavors; 69. Shad delicacies; 70. “So-Called Chaos” singer Morissette; 71. Like Niels Bohr; 72. Kind of inspection; 73. Orch. Section; 74. Old French coin; 76. Means of defense: Abbr.; 77. Come across as; 78. Canned meat brand; 79. “And that’s NOLIE” (“Believe you me”); 80. Christina in the 2005 revival of “Sweet Charity”; 82. Speech stumbles; 84. Informal greetings; 86. Zoo feature, in England; 88. Finnic language; 92. Fashion inits.; 94. Ring bearer; 95. Here, on the Riviera; 97. Fife player; 98. Bread for tacos?; 99. Plywood layer; 100. OPHRAHS Book Club; 101. 7, 11 and 13; 105. Bologna bone; 106. Mandela’s native tongue; 107. Hijacked cruise ship Achille LAURO; 108. Bar at the bar; 110. “I’d hate to break up ASET”; 113. Having a taste of the grape; 114. Run up ATAB; 115. NASA cancellation; 116. Econ. Measure; 117. Your and my; 119. Snap; 120. Cyrano’s nose.

The Times published an electronic Leap Day puzzle by Fred Piscop, which I just noticed. It's full of LEAPs, and it's great fun!

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

To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.

03.01.08

Puzzled

"Of all the works by Rodin, the most famous one is unquestionably the great Thinker. It was modelled in 1880-1882 for The Gates of Hell, and exhibited in its original size (H. 71.5 cm) in Copenhagen in 1888. It was enlarged in 1902 and exhibited in this form at the Salon of 1904 where it aroused strong reactions from the press. It was on this occasion that Gabriel Mourey, editor of the magazine Les Arts de la vie, launched a subscription for a bronze "offered to the people of Paris" to erase the affront caused by the refusal of the statue of Balzac in 1898."
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Saturday, March 1, 2008

Puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz

It used to bother me when my late wife would (usually on a Saturday) say "I declare this puzzle finished!" (when it was not) and toss the newspaper aside, commencing to be occupied with the little things that one must do to stay civilized. Today, I understand! At one point, I simply said "I declare this puzzle finished!" Yes, I had gone over it word by word, checked every single entry, matching against the clues, conjuring up the widest interpretations possible -- and still the New York Times equivalent of spell-check, the Applet "Check My Solution" device, kept insisting there was an error. So, finally, I said I don't care, everything works just fine the way it is, and -- I declared this puzzle finished!

I would be happy, perhaps even thrilled, I mused to myself, to know what I have overlooked, or whether the New York Times has hired HAL in its computer network. In the meantime, I went on -- luckily for me, a good soul shed light (see Comments), and now all's well!

Appropriately, the entries in this puzzle relate to games, puzzles, numbers and mazes -- PUBQUIZ (1A. Event in which teams may drink rounds during rounds); UNSNARL (8A. Comb); GOTFREE (16A. Broke out); ACESOUT (19A. Defeats easily); BEATSIT (20A. Doesn't stick around); RADII (48A. Cuts into a pie, often); MISDEAL (51A. Distribution slip); SYSTEMS (60A. Information technology subject); UNICODE (2D. Cousin of Ascii); ARCSINE (12D. Function whose domain is between -1 and 1); SNARE (26D. Part of a certain kit); ALG (30D. H.S. subject); ONECLAM (41D. Part of a fin?); GAMEST (43D. Most intrepid); RATER (48D. Zagat contributor); and QTYS (Amts.). Well, not strictly related, but they might as well be because, that's right -- I declare this puzzle finished!

Oh, but I just can't go without mentioning UGGBOOTS (8D. Boho-chic footwear) and GNOCCHI (18A. Dumpling dish), the weird entries today. There's also QUASARS (4D. Some radio sources) and DAYSTAR (58A. Bright planet, sometimes) universally related, e.g., of the universe. PDQBACH (53A. Ostensible composer of "The Abduction of Figaro" and "Oedipus Tex") leads the initialized entries which include STJAMES (31A. Place on a game board?); NFCTEAM (11D. Saints, e.g.); and, of course, UGGBOOTS!

People: PAPADOC (1D. Leader who claimed to have put a fatal curse on J.F.K.); LEITER (14D. First pitcher to have defeated all 30 major-league teams); DERALTE (40D. 20th-century German leader's moniker); PILATES (17A. Conditioning system); DORA (21A. 1920s birth control advocate Russell); PEROT (22A. Author of "Save Your Job, Save Our Country: Why Nafta Must Be Stopped -- Now!"); ALROSEN (33A. A.L. home run champ of 1950 and '53); GORME (1966 Grammy winner for "If He Walked Into My Life"); a DEB (44A. Focus of some ball-handlers?); DUENA (46A. Spanish mistress); and ESTELLE (56A. Bennett of the Ronettes).

Leftovers: ANOUNCE (15A. Minimal, with "of"); EIRE (24A. Name on some euros); ODORS (25A. They may be found in sneakers); 27A. "DEO vindice" (Confederacy motto); CANER (28A. Chairperson?); CESSNA (29A. Big name in flight); HAIRGEL (35A. Mop holder?); WINDOW (38A. Often-minimized thing); APIA (47A. Samoan capital); MRES (50A. Field fare, briefly); ENTENTE (55A. Summit goal); STAINER (57A. Worker doing a desk job?); and that's just TOSTART (59A. "First ...") -- following are the downs:

BOLEROS (3D. Dances in waltz time); 5D. "'UNTO Me?' I do not know you" (Emily Dickinson poem); ICEUP (6D. Get slippery, in a way); ZESTED (7D. Zipped up); NONET (9D. Big combo); STOA (10D. Old marketplace surround); REHIRES (13D. Not-so-new work crew); RESOLED (23D. Having a better bottom?); CANID (28D. Wolf, e.g.); JEW (32D. Faster, maybe); REDALERT ("Danger!"); HOPINTO (35D. Enter for a spin); ARISTAS (36D. Bristly appendages); NUMBEST (39D. Least sensible); WASHERS (42D. Load-bearing things?); BIPEDS (45D. Man and others); ENNA (52D. Italian province or its capital).

So, what was the difference? CANIS instead of CANID; SUENA instead of DUENA. As advised, I worked "doggedly" (a clue for the ages) with help from Blake in Comments, and IMADEIT (37A. Words after "Whew!") -- a tough one IDSAY (49D. Opinion opener) -- and with that, Canis, Canid, Suena, Duena -- "I declare this puzzle finished!"

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

To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.