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Double, Double Toil and Trouble...
The WitchHead Nebula
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Puzzle by Chuck Hamilton, edited by Will Shortz DOUBLE (65A. It can precede the first words of 17-, 28-, 35-, 47- and 61-Across) is the tie-in for the inter-related entries of TIMETRAVEL (17A. “Back to the Future” subject); TEAMSPIRIT (28A. Fans often have it); FAULTLINE (35A. Earthquake site); SPACECADET (47A. Flaky sort); and MAJORCHORD (61A. C-E-G triad, e.g.).
A fine gathering for tonight's LUNAR ECLIPSE.
Not a lot of trouble here -- the clues are reasonable, the entries are sensible. A few nice pairings, ADORERS crosses TEAMSPIRIT; we've both TAHITI and Mauna LOA; NAZIS and NATO share an N; ADROIT and ABLE are side-by-side; and the clues Enters helter-skelter (12D.) and Not helter-skelter (45D.). GORE is not a Noble Prize winner; CAROLS is above ORALS; ESTATES is the opener; RESIDES is the closer of the puzzle and in between there's a flash or lash of Opus DEI.
Across: 1. Cause of a skin rash; 7. Rug, so to speak; 10. Bugle tune; 14. Quenched; 15. Very close friend, in slang; 16. Miner’s entry; 19. Guadalajara greeting; 20. Police dispatch, for short; 21. Hare Krishnas’ wear; 22. TV station, e.g.; 23. Eastern way; 24. Old master’s work; 25. Best suited; 26. Marine raptor; 31. Moonshiner’s setup; 33. Give a ticket; 34. SNO-cone; 39. Medium’s claim; 42. Fraternal org.; 43. Interior designer’s focus; 51. Horror film staple; 52. Parts of a Christmas Eve service; 53. Court org.; 55. Hwys.; 56. Some doctoral exams; 57. Simon Wiesenthal’s quarry; 59. Opus DEI (“The Da Vinci Code” group); 60. Defaulter’s loss; 63. Some Feds; 64. ATA disadvantage; 66. What matches are made of; 67. It may leave marks; 68. Doesn’t stick to the straight and narrow.
Down: 1. Homes with electronic gates, maybe; 2. Some newsletter pictures; 3. Machine on a skating rink; 4. Barely make, with “out”; 5. Way around Paris; 6. Far from klutzy; 7. Hi sign?; 8. Sews up; 9. Styling aid; 10. “Omoo” island; 11. Devoted fans; 12 Enters helter-skelter; 13. Opening of; 18. Having the right stuff; 22. Stick on; 25. Italian wine city; 27. 2003 Will Ferrell title role; 29. Made a scene?; 30. Army, navy and air force: Abbr.; 32. Prada and Fendi; 36. Food pkg. markings; 37. Mauna LOA; 38. Brain scan letters; 39. Offerers of arms; 40. “Puh-lease!”; 41. Defensive wall; 44. Spanish capital under the Moors; 45. Not helter-skelter; 46. Lives; 48. Parts of analogies; 49. Automaker Ferrari; 50. Alternatives to “Vettes; 54. Race site since 1711; 57. Brussels-based org.; 58. It’s “stronger than dirt”; 61. War-room fixture; 62. “Ben-HUR”.
Of course, there’s 007, DoubleMint, double talk, Double Dutch, double duty, double doubles, etc., and for double or nothing, Donald’s Double Trouble!
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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.
Fore!
Even the non-golfers of the world are familiar with the shape of a golf ball, like that pictured above, and have probably wondered why its surface is covered with small indentations called dimples.
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Puzzle by Victor Fleming, edited by Will Shortz Golf is an odd diversion -- a bit like crossword puzzles… Intended to be played in solitude, the participant cannot help getting others involved in some way or form. In golf, it’s the caddy, the viewers on the sidelines, the announcer eschewing LOQUACITY (10D. Talkativeness) with a hush. In the world of crosswords, one may communicate with other humans on occasion with a query of etymology on the assumption that two heads are better than one. However, when in error in either activity, one can only say it’s MYMISTAKE (35D. “I can’t blame anyone else”)!
I’ve played miniature golf once, seen newsreels of presidents and celebrities teeing off, snippets of PGA tournaments, that Martin & Lewis movie, and Tiger Woods to NOEND (27A. Ad infinitum). Playing golf is not on my bucket list, and I doubt I have the SKILL (54D. Dexterity) -- I feel it utilizes too much real estate, and although it does preserve the outskirts of town for the birds, those night lights ruin star-gazing something fierce!Three inter-related entries, all clued as Enjoying an outing, of sorts, ONTHEGOLFCOURSE (20.); PLAYINGEIGHTEEN (39.); and HITTINGTHELINKS (56.) run the full 15 squares across the puzzle, letting the rest of the crossword fall where it may.
Six-letter entries include LOGGER (5D. Paul Bunyan, e.g.); GOSOFT (9D. Treat leniently, with “on”); ALINED (46D. Trued up); WRENCH (48D. Twist badly); ATCOST (28A. For no profit); RADIAL (45A. Michelin offering); VISINE (23A. “Gets the red out“ sloganeer); and REVISE (51A Edit).
Five letter: GLARE (9A. Icy look); OOZES (16A. Moves like sludge); SQUAT (19A. Catcher’s position); SELMA (32A. Sister of Marge Simpson); EYING (44A. Checking out); ASIAN (61A. Like wild tigers); STAKE (64A. Garden plant support); HOSED (67A. Cheated, slangily); YAKOV (1D. Comic Smirnoff); IRANI (2D. Tehran denizen); PITTS (3D. Actress ZaSu); SAYHI (4D. Greet cordially); JAFFA (8D. Port of Israel); China’s Zhou ENLAI (21D.); CLANG (22D. Trolley sound); NYLON (40D. Fishing line material); HEGEL (41D. Georg who wrote “The Philosophy of Right”); EGRET (50D. Everglades wader); VILLA (52D. Home overlooking the sea, maybe); INOIL (53D. How some tuna is packed); ESSAY (55D. Lamb or Bacon piece).
Four letter: YIPS (1A. Puppies’ plaints); LEEJ (5A. Cobb of “12 Angry Men”); ARIA (14A. Oratorio highlight); OBLA (15A. Di or da preceder in a Beatles song); “What KATY Did” (classic children’s book with a punny title) (17A.); GRAF Spee (old German warship); ALFA (24A. Italian auto, for short); Scientology founder LRON Hubbard (25A.) and LORN (36A. Forsaken); Get INTO the habit (38A.); ALUM (42A. Homecoming figure, for short); YANG (43A. Yin’s counterpart); LOIS (63A. Hi Flagston's wife, in the comics); DAWG (47A. Flagston family pet); SLOE (49A. Gin flavoring); RAIN (62A. Drought relief); EXEC (65A. One hired by a corp. board); LILA (66A. McCann of country music); TISH (68A. One of “The Addams Family,” informally); ALLY (69A. Comrade in arms); EBRO (6D. River of Spain); ELAL (7D. Mideast airline); France’s Cote d’AZUR (11D.); REAS (12D. Actor Stephen and kin); ESTE (13A. Renaissance family name); OLGA (26D. Gymnast Korbut); “The ONEI Love” (R.E.M. hit) (29D.); STEN (30D. British W.W. II-era gun); TONG (31D. Chinatown gang); SPAR (32D. Exchange jabs); ELLA (33D. Former Connecticut governor Grasso); LAUD (34D. Speak well of); RIGA (37D. Latvia’s capital); HASH browns (diner fare) (56D.); ISTO (57D. Analogy part); TIAS (58D. Havana aunts); TAXI (59D. Kind of stand); HIES (60D. Doesn’t dally).
Three-letter entries: "PAR"!
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For today’s cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated, and then for more, go HERE.
All That's LEFT
Left, Barack Hussein Obama
Right, أسامة بن محمد بن عوض بن لادن
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Monday, February 18, 2008
Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz
It’s clear what sort of politics is at hand in this quick little Monday puzzle which sort of hustles one right out of the voting booth on Presidents Day with no other choice except a liberal-radical-left-progressive fresh from IOWA (60A. Early state in the presidential campaign). The inter-related entries, as one might call them, are LIBERALBENEFITS (17A. Free health and dental care, and then some); RADICALSIGN (25A. Math symbol for extraction of a root); LEFTHANGING (45A. In limbo); and PROGRESSIVELENS (57A. Eyeglass option for different distances).
This is certainly going to be an election year that goes down in history. Frank Rich in his op ed column (see HERE), predicts the end of an era of two centuries of U.S. Presidents of but one ilk. The balance of political power has changed radically and will never be the same again -- further, the political demographics will not permit anything else. Maureen Dowd’s view (HERE) is also worth a read.
“President Obama” -- “President Barack Hussein Obama”, no less! Remember Letterman‘s “Uma, Oprah; Oprah, Uma”? Get ready for Bush‘s “Obama, Osama; Osama, Obama”! Will the campaign song be Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off with those lyrics, “You say tomato, I say tomato, you say potato, I say potato?” Write your own interpolations for a new musical -- “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House!”
How long will it take for a puzzle constructor to whip out a crossword for the GOP newsletter that will send them all fleeing with an ALIAS (18D. Fake identity) from the hallowed chambers of tradition into the spider holes of seclusion surrounded with Crusaders of a different faith from another world and twilight zone? Beam me up, Scotty, I’m skipping this EVENT (19D. Occurrence)!
NOTSOFAR (39A. “Hey, come back a bit”), let me BOBUP (1A. Bounce to the surface) before I FLUB (6A. Botch) this SPIN (49D. Pirouette) -- hey, nobody’s PERFECT (5D. “Couldn’t be better!”) -- check back in ONEYEAR (43D. Subscription period, often)!
Meanwhile, back at the crossword -- the remaining entries: Eight letters -- MEATSTEW (34A. Entrée in a bowl with beef or lamb, say); six letters -- ALERTS (33A. Warnings); POURIN (42A. Enter en masse); FILIAL (6D. Pertaining to a son or daughter); and HATING (46D. Loathing); five letters -- ABASE (14A. Belittle); FLIES (21. Aviates); VERSE (22A. Limerick or sonnet); STYLE (49A. Flair); Peppermint PATTY of “Peanuts” (52A.); AORTA (62A. Major artery); RYDER (65A. Winona of “Girl, Interrupted”); GOFER (10D. Errand runner); LIRAS (23D. Bygone Italian coins); RAINS (25D. Monsoon occurrences); ALLOT (26D. Apportion); DEITY (27. God or goddess); SMART (28D. Brainy); ATARI (30D. Trailblazing video game maker); LENIN (31. His tomb is in Red Square); TWANG (32D. Banjo sound); SLUGS (35D. Hits hard); PAYTV (42D. Home viewing for a price); ALGAE (47D. Aquatic plant life); and OLDER (40D. Like 16 vis-à-vis 15, agewise). Four letters: ANTE, ANTS, ASIA, AYES, BABY, BALK, EMIR, FLUB, GEAR, HERD, ILIA, IOTA, LAIN, LANA, LEIA, LOBE, NYSE, OBIE, OMNI, PSAT, STAG, TSAR, TROY, UTES, and TROY. Three letters: ADZ, ALT, BAN, ELS, FEZ, HAT, IER, KEY, LOY, PER, PGA, OAF, STY, and USE (4D. Take advantage of).
The clues that are left... Across: 6. Botch; 10. Sports equipment; 23. Luke’s twin sister in “Star Wars”; 24. Price PER pound; 30. Pilot’s stat.; 36. Pelvic bones; 37. Boat propeller; 38. Clark’s crush on “Smallville”; 44. Where pigs wallow; 47. Wood-shaping tool; 48. Nays’ opposites; 54. Sombrero, e.g.; 61. Reclined; 63. The Big Board: Abbr.; 64. Doe’s mate.
Down: 1. Pitcher’s faux pitch; 2. New York theater award; 3. One often needing a change; 7. Ear or leaf part; 8. Four Corners-area indians; 9. Prohibition; 11. Dubai dignitary; 12. Six-legged scurriers; 13. Move skyward; 24. Tour grp.?; 29. Suffix with bombard; 37. Lummox; 41. Turk’s topper; 50. “Iliad” setting; 51. Cries after being burned; 52. H.S. junior’s exam; 53. Where most of Russia is; 54. Group of buffalo; 55. Prefix with chamber; 56. Ruler before 31-Down; 58. Ernie of the 24-Down; and 59. Silver screen star Myrna.
So there, it’s not all politics!
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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.
Say "Cheese!" 
Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison, Wisconsin-----------------
Sunday, February 17, 2008 ACROSTIC Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz “In Wisconsin, where oleomargarine is a fighting word, its great cheese and dairying business is a frequent subject of legislative conflict in Wisconsin’s handsome, cruciform Capitol in the center of Madison. Wisconsin’s farmers are perhaps the best informed politically in the national. They have to be or they’d miss part of the serious fun Wisconsin has always had with politics. Wisconsin’s politics have traditionally been uproar politics -- full of the yammer, the squawk, the accusing finger, the injured howl. Every voter is an amateur detective, full of zeal to get out and nip a little political iniquity in the bud.” -- George Sessions Perry, Cities of AmericaThe quote appears fairly intact with the exception of the introductory half of the paragraph and the exclusion of “an amateur detective” -- fair enough!The defined words: GUTHRIE (A. Dust Bowl Troubadour of folk music); EVILS (B. Escapees from a mythical box); OLIPHANT (C. Editorial cartoonist Pat); RAJPUT (D. Member of a Hindu warrior caste); GUMSHOE (E. Hawkshaw sleuth); ENBLOC (F. As a group, all together [2 wds.]); PERSEIDS (G. Shower that’s hot in August); ELICIT (H. Draw out, call forth); RUFFLE (I. Feature of Seinfeld’s puffy shirt); RAINBOW (J. Our nation, according to Jesse Jackson); YANQUI (K. Estadounidense); CLOWNING (L. Buffoonery); IDYLLS (M. Poems on pastoral scenes); THICKET (N. Chaparral or coppice); INHALF (O. Forming two equal pieces [2 wds.]); EVZONE (P. Kilt-wearing Greek soldier often serving as a palace guard); STAIRWAY (Q. Flight from one landing to another); OPTOUT (R. Decline to take advantage [of] [2 wds.]); FAITHFUL (S. True believers with “the”); AVIDITY (T. Enthusiasm; greed); MINOTAUR (U. Mythical monster kept in a labyrinth); ETHEL (V. Barrymore who said “I never let them cough. They wouldn’t dare”); REQUEST (W. “As Time Goes By,” to Sam, e.g.); IDIOLECT (X. Pattern of speech peculiar to one person); CLINTON (Y. Veep under Jefferson and Madison); APOSTLE (Z. Evangelistic supporter).Presidential candidates running for election best know when in Wisconsin to say "cheese". Having lived in Wisconsin as a child for but a year, I was spared the politics, but remember the cheese... and smile!-----------------For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
Presidents
Sunday, February 17, 2008 POLITICAL LEADERS, Puzzle by Henry Hook, edited by Will Shortz Ten presidents, ADAMS, BUSH, CARTER, HARRISON, HAYES, MONROE, PIERCE, TAFT, TAYLOR, and WILSON are the “political leader” half of partial-entry anagrams in today’s crossword -- no greatness here! In any event, a topical puzzle for President’s Day.
SCRAMBLED (19A. With 105-Across, what the answer to each starred clue starts with) PRESIDENT (105A. See 19-Across) and the inter-related across entries of ONEMORETIME (21. *Again); SAYHEYKID (23. *Baseball’s Willie Mays, with “the”); HUSBANDTOBE (24. *Fiancé); DAMASCUSSTEEL (53. *Metal used for swords); FATTEDCALF (58. *Symbol of rejoicing for someone’s long-awaited return); TERRACOTTA (61. *Brownish-orange); PRICEEARNINGS (68. *Kind of ratio); SLOWINGDOWN (100. *Decelerating); ROYALTIES (102. *Composer’s due); RAINORSHINE (104. *Whatever happens) are their hiding places -- most of them needing one! Especially this one HERE!
Well, it is an election year!
Other Across: 1. Words “beautifully marked in currants” in “Alice in Wonderland”; 6. Common ERA; 9. Make an example of; 13. Destination in Genesis 8; 25. Glycerides, e.g.; 26. Football Hall-of-Famer Ernie; 28. Home of Faa’s International Airport; 29. Lie; 30. Jury pool; 31. Watch-crystal holder; 32. Villain; 33. Ring results, briefly; 34. Bigwig; 38. “Awesome!”; 41. Next-to-last round; 42. Little of France?; 43. St. Louis, e.g.; 44. Brawl motivator; 45. Crunch’s title; 46. Rod holders; 50. Photocopier choice; 51. Hollow-point ammo; 55. Stage awards; 56. Butlers and maids; 57. Be about to fall; 65. Lady-in-waiting in “Othello”; 66. Lovers of expensive furs may put them on; 67. West Coast wine city; 72. Divine; 74. New York’s LUNT-Fontanne Theater; 75. Supermarket lines? 77. Hoop grp.; 78. Alma mater for Neil Armstrong and Pat Nixon: Abbr.; 769. Close of day, to poets; 80. Gutter locale; 81. Thomas Mann’s “Der TOD in Venedig”; 82. Attempts; 85. With 20-Down, airshow activities; 86. Jim who wrote “Ball Four”; 88. Indy champ Bobby; 90. Dentist’s concern; 91. COIGN of vantage (good position for viewing); 96. Split; 98. Split; 99. Like wiping one’s dirty mouth on one’s sleeve; 106. Cantankerous; 107. Not including; 108. Inexact fig.; 109. Magazine holders.
Down: 1. Mississippi quartet; 2. ACAST of thousands; 3. “TRYTO Remember”; 4. “Real Time” moderator; 5. Tip reducer?; 6. Variety of leather; 7. Exercised power over; 8. All the parts of a column except the bottom; 9. Stick; 10. Accustom; 11. Actress Harper; 12. Diplomats’ place: Abbr.; 13. Ball handler?; 14. “Not I!” hearer; 15. Titular Verdi role; 16. Laugh-a-minute; 17. Both: Prefix; 18. Curling goal; 20. See 85-Across; 22. Author of the Oprah’s Book Club selection “We Were the Mulvaneys”; 27. I’s opposite on a clock; 30. Improvises; 31. Bar personnel; 32. Light from a headlight; 33. Rears; 35. Cracker topper; 36. What 35-Down may do; 37. Jessica of “7th Heaven”; 38. Done with; 39. Tourist mecca near Venezuela; 40. Relinquish; 41. Passing remark?; 42. Sch. Fair organizer; 46. Schumacher of auto racing; 47. The “E” in H.R.E.: Abbr.; 48. Violinist Mischa; 49. This, in Havana; 50. Cox’s call; 52. Spot; 53. Manhattan street leading to the Williamsburg Bridge; 54. Guarantees; 56. Sensory receptor in the ear; 59. “Mon DIEU!”; 60. Loud, abrupt sound; 61. Dog of old comics; 62. Denier’s reply; 63. Aerobics technique; 64. Winning; 66. +; 68. +; 69. Impair through inactivity; 70. Atahualpa, e.g.; 71. It may be + or -; 72. Act of kindness; 73. Soothsayer’s subject; 76. “Death in the Afternoon” figures; 80. Muse of music; 83. Creator of “Hagar the Horrible”; 84. Hero; 85. Part of many a Halloween outfit; 86. Noble partner; 87. Fictional TV planet; 89. HENRY Fleming, central character in “The Red Badge of Courage”; 90. Dots on a map; 91. Home of 67-Across: Abbr.; 92. Top; 93. Not so friendly; 94. Capital of East Flanders; 95. Fits (inside); 96. Reed instrument: Abbr.; 97. Pork cut; 98. Liver in Lyon; 99. Braggadocio; 100. “No seats left”; 101. FedEx competitor; 103. Still.
Two Shortzesque clues in one puzzle! -- CLOVEN (96A. Split) with FORKED (98A. Split), and AHEAD (64D. +) with PLUS (68D. +), along with a few good sports and entertainment clues with their answers is all it took to keep me happy -- I'm easy! The first entry, EATME, was the easiest -- after that, I had to run a circle around the center, just couldn't see I'd had a B instead of a C for HAIRCELL and UPCCODE. Also, I cross the Williamsburg Bridge a dozen times a year and couldn't come up with DELANCEY. Now I know!
Linda of Madness...Crossword and Otherwise covers the rest of the puzzle in her delightful write-up. Hope one and all have a good day off for President's Day -- I'll end it here before I start beating around the Bush!
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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.
Words
Detail, Words are Sweet Sounds for Objects Unreal, 2003-2004 -- Justin Simoni
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Saturday, February 16, 2008
Puzzle by Tony Orbach, edited by Will Shortz
Ouch!!!...outside of that, I’ve little to say, a lot of words…but nothing!
Across: 1. Bristles; 8. Post boxes?; 15. Thinner option; 16. Piece of silver, say; 17. Lab tube; 18. A lot of foreign intelligence intercepts; 19. Relatively remote; 20. Many-sided problems; 21. Ready to be put to bed; 22. “Rugrats” baby; 23. Isn’t O.K.; 25. One of the Gandhis; 26. Golden fish stocked in ornamental pools; 27. Christening spot; 28. Nottingham’s river; 29. Dirt; 31. One protected by a collie; 32. Patron of Paris; 35. One making calls; 38. Schubert’s “Eine Kleine Trauermusik,” e.g.; 39. Demand; 43. Some apéritifs; 45. Mother of Hyacinth, in myth; 46. Hindu sage; 47. Certain alkene; 48. Incubator; 49. Slew; 50. Anti-ship missile that skims waves at nearly the speed of sound; 52. Touch-related; 53. Part of a special delivery?; 54. Be quite enough for; 55. Amscray; 56. Hamlet, notably; 57. Give a bad name; 58.“On Your Toes” composer.
Down: 1. “The View,” essentially; 2. Home to Mount Chimborazo; 3. Earthen casserole dish; 4. Letting stand; 5. Decayed; 6. Put in up front; 7. Skittish herd; 8. Small, deep-fried pork cube; 9. C2H4; 10. Size up; 11. Bait; 12. Singer of “A Foggy Day” in “A Damsel in Distress”; 13. Isn’t very visible; 14. Shooter that may be digital, for short; 22. Caused to be scored, as a run; 24. European Union member: Abbr.; 26. Means of public protest; 30. Was broad on the boards; 33. Big Mac request; 34. Real; 35. Island entertainer; 36. Kind of water; 37. Nearest, to Nero; 40. Lessen; 41. One using a crib; 42. They work the earth; 44. Apply messily; 49. PAAVO Nurmi, nine-time track gold medalist in 1920s Olympics; 51. Chowderhead; 52. Peter or Paul, but not Mary; 53. Picture producers.
"Aaaarghh!" -- Amy "Ugh." -- Rex "Tough..." -- Linda "Damn…my brain hurts!" -- Jim EXACT and EXOCET, ACETON and ETHYLENE, CUCHIFRITO and NOCHEESE, CHATTER and GABFEST, even DIL and EWE, this puzzle had its HYDRAS! ...and slain they be!
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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.
Dog Watch
Illustration by Gustave Doré for Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" ------------------
Friday, February 15, 2008Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will ShortzINTHENEARFUTURE (45A. Sometime soon), this DOGWATCH (30D. 1600 to 1800, on a boat) upon the UNLIMITED (11D. Vast) and yet MINUTE (36D. Trifling) ocean of games and NAMES (26A. Stray animals don’t have them) will be INREPOSE (13D. Awaiting burial) in the DESERT (38A. Roughly a third of the earth’s land surface) MUD (36A. Yielding ground) of words -- like a ROCKAND ROLLSTAR (47A. One with a guitar and shades, stereotypically) TRACTABLE (42A. Compliant) to those who EGGON (34A. Incite) for PUNTS (44A. Gives up responsibility) and ENHALO (48A. Bathe in a glow) wearing CLERICALCOLLARS (17A. Band of holy men), HULKS (40A. Ships on the seafloor) shunting CLONES (32A. More of the same) having followed POLARIS (8D. Pilot light?) to the LOCUS (35A. Center) of PULP (44D. Great literature’s opposite).
ARTUROTOSCANINI (15A. He conducted the premiere performances of “Pagliacci” and “La Boheme”) will lead the crew of ANNE Elliot, heroine of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” (20A.); CARON (21A. Star of “Gigi” and “Lili”); the CUTEST Couple (yearbook voting category) (27A.); MADIGAN (“Field of Dreams” actress Amy); SADEYES (31A. 1979 #1 hit for Robert John); NEWT (39A. Young cowboy in “Lonesome Dove”); PACMAN (1D. Game featuring Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde); ARLENE (2D. Photographer/children’s author Alda); UTAHAGEN (7D. Stage actress who wrote “Respect for Acting”); Albee’s “Three TALL Women” (10D.); FAGEN (24A. Steely Dan singer Donald); NINOTCHKA (26D. 1939 film taglined “Garbo laughs”); CAMUS (27D. First African-born Literature Nobelist); MCENTIRE (28A. “Is There Life Out There” singer); ALGERNON (29D. Titular mouse in a classic Daniel Keyes novel); ULTRAS (37D. Political extremists); HANNO (40D. Carthaginian statesman who opposed war with Rome); and the TUTSI (41D. Rwandan people).
PASSEDUP (1A. Didn’t take advantage of) in the paragraphs above: STUPID (9A. Muscleheaded); MERGE (18A. Become one); HAIRLINES (19A. Newspaper column separators); FOGIN (24A. Strand at the airport, maybe); NIKON (25A. Maker of Coolpix cameras); DOMED (33A. Like St. Basil’s); SOUPIEST (49A. Most mawkish); STERNO (3D. Jelly seen on buffet tables); SURGE (4D. Kind of protector); SCORN (9D. Treat badly) and SCION (16D. Boxy Toyota product); PIANOKEY (12D. One that gets depressed during recitals); DISSENTS (14D. Files a minority opinion); COMAS (21D. Some emergency cases may be found in them); NUDES (25D. Some Degas paintings); SOCKEROO (31D. Big hit); DOLLARS (33D. Number to the left of a decimal point, maybe); and LUBED (35. Unlikely to rattle or squeak, say).
Four letter words left unuttered on this voyage include ERIE, MOPE, TEAL, TILE, with nary a three-letter -- DOC, FLU, NEO... forgetting MUD!Our etymological mystery today is DOGWATCH -- from the best that can be gathered dog watches formed the only authorized play-time for the crews of most ships at sea. In order that the same group should not have the same hours of duty, day after day, the dog watch was usually divided into two parts, the first and second dog watch ("Dog watch" is defined in some references as a corruption of “docked,” or shortened, watch.).Seaman worked four hours on and four hours off -- the “off” taken up partly by the ship’s routine work -- was a considerable hardship. “All hands up hammocks” was piped by the boatswain’s mates about 7:30 A.M. and from then until 8 P.M. those off watch got little chance for an extra snooze. This meant that the men had less than four hours’ sleep one night and some seven and a half the next.What a life!....... T.G.I.F.!
-----------------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.
