11.13.08

XXX

xXx, 2002
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Thursday, November 13, 2008

Puzzle by Allan E. Parrish, edited by Will Shortz

It appears that XXX can be utilized in a number of ways, most notoriously as an identifier for pornography, especially X-rated movies, in athletics as the Super Bowl XXX, held in 1996, musically, a 1999 album by ZZ Top, or if one prefers, alcohol level during prohibition, a generic depiction of Moonshine or other alcoholic beverage, more obscurely, XXX: Exklusibong, Explosibon, Expose, a Philippine current affairs television show, the ISO 4217 currency code for “no currency”, popularly, an abbreviation for “kiss kiss kiss”, commonly used in chat or text messaging, or an abbreviation for “I love you” in short missives or love notes, a symbol of straight edge lifestyle, sometimes a shortened version of XXXL, a plus size clothing size, a reference to Amsterdam, a flavor of Vitamin Water, and xXx, a 2002 action film starring Vin Diesel, or the 2005 sequel starring Ice Cube.
Today’s crossword utilizes XXX as an indicator for TIC TAC TOE WINNER, POISON WARNING and THIRTY IN OLD ROME, across entries 20, 34 and 51, all clued as [See circled letters].
A few links: ONELINER (35D. Quick laugh); GISELE; ICECAP (3D. Martian feature); LESTER; MCLEAN (31A. Virginia locale where the C.I.A. is headquartered); SPLISH (47A. Sound in a Bobby Darin song title); LEICA (1A. Pioneering 35 mm. camera); RIGEL (36D. Star of Orion); MEIR, RARE.
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
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11.12.08

Inside Jokers

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

THERATPACK (56A. Group with members hidden in 17-, 24- and 46-Across) along with PAIDAVISIT (17A. Stopped by), SMARTINVESTOR (24A. Market-savvy sort) and PUTSINATRANCE (46A. Hypnotizes) are this Wednesday’s interrelated entries. There are various explanations of the origin of the name Rat Pack, one of which is that it may refer to the belief that an established pack of rats will belligerently reject an outsider who tries to join them -- sounds familiar…

The original Rat Pack included Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, along with Judy Garland, Errol Flynn, Mickey Rooney, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and the young Frank Sinatra -- read more HERE. Then, of course, there’s The Brat Pack, no connection, known to mall rats pouring through supermarket publications.

Other people in the puzzle include ALI; AMY; ANG; ARABS; ARLO; BEN; DRS; Lamont CRANSTON, a k a The Shadow; ELO; MARY (25D. Miraculous Medal figure); MOIRA; OPAL; TALESE and WILDE.

A few more links: CANA (45D. Biblical wedding site); GREATSEAL (11D. Something the U.S. government keeps an eye on); COBRA (1A. Enemy of a mongoose); ONES (63A. Vending machine input).

That’s it for the outsiders’ look at the inside jokers --- THE RAT PACK!

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

For the complete post, go HERE.


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11.11.08

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Puzzle by Nancy Salomon and Larry Shearer, edited by Will Shortz
Three long entries are the main feature of this crossword appearing on this Veterans’ Day (off topic) -- one down: HEADING DUE SOUTH (7. Going straight to Antarctica, say), and two diagonally, SLIP SLIDING AWAY (1. Disappearing), RUNNING DOWN HILL (12. Proceeding with little effort). Working the puzzle on the internet, I did not notice the instruction to “See Notepad”, so had no idea there were two diagonal entries until I printed the puzzle for commentary. I am assuming that the dead-tree copy will have a Diagonal category in addition to Across and Down -- which will give the solver a little more to dwell upon. That said, all three 15-letter entries meet in the center where they are united by the letter D.
HONEYMOON (10D. Bliss before the hard part begins) and WINDYCITY (35D. Chicago, with “the”) are the remaining long entries. Links: ODESSA (24A. Potemkin mutiny city); ISAAC (127A. Almost-sacrificed son in the Bible); and YMA (26A. Late singer Sumac).
With the entries of heading due south, slip-sliding away, running down hill, honeymoon and messy given the definitions of bliss before the hard part begins and complicated, as a divorce, the entry of ALONE (34D. Unaccompanied) seems quite apropos!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

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11.10.08


Si! Si!

NIA (16A. Actress Peeples)
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Monday, November 10, 2008
Puzzle by Gail Grabowski, edited by Will Shortz
TACO TOPPING (64A. The start of 17-Across or 11- or 33-Down) with CHEESECLOTH (17A. Open-textured cotton fabric), ONION DOME (11D. Russian church feature) and SALSA CLUB (33D. Jazzy Latin dance site) are the interrelated entries featured in this Monday back-to-work crossword. I’ve never had a taco myself so I’ll take this puzzle’s word on the toppings -- however, just last Wednesday, the puzzle featured TACO, clued as “Crunchie munchie”, so I’m getting a good idea as to the ingredients and the consistency of the item -- however, here’s all one probably needs to know about a TACO.
A few links: SNEEZE (21A. Allergic reaction); MACHO (1D. Like a he-man); ITEM (61D. Talked-about twosome); and …END (38A. Bring to a halt).
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.


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11.09.08


The Snow Queen, illustration by Edmund Dulac
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Sunday, November 9, 2008
“SOUNDS LIKE IT’S COLD IN HERE” Puzzle by Paula Gamache, edited by Will Shortz
The title of this Sunday puzzle refers to the insertion of the cliché sound "BR"(rrr...) utilized for indicating coldness into a common expression containing the shorter plosive B, resulting in WHERES THE BRIEF (23A. Question to a paralegal?); BRAND IN BOSTON (38A. Red Sox franchise?); BRIER BEWARE (45A. Warning sign outside of Br’er Rabbit’s home?); KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BRAWL (63A. Useful advice for a ring referee?); MEDICINE BRO (80A. Clinician in the “hood?); BREAST SELLERS (87A. Silicone implant companies?); FLAT BREAD TRUCK (108A. Matzo mover?), thus producing twists on where’s the beef?, banned in Boston, buyer beware (caveat emptor), keep your eye on the ball, Medicine Bow, best sellers, and flat-bed truck. This puzzle might be popular HERE.
A few links Across: 1. 18th-century Venetian fresco painter; 20. It’s lighter than air; 21. Site of two ecumenical councils; 30. “Sugar Lips” trumpeter; 33. Figure in an Edmund Spenser poem; 35. Ancient name for Great Britain; 44. Symbol on the back of a dollar bill; 57. London’s SLOANE Square; 83. Canadian prov.; 86. Ancient Egyptian kingdom; 96. Hoops Hall-of-Famer Thomas;105. Beloved of Pyramus.
A few downs: 6. Boxer nicknamed “The Bear”;13. Hunt overseas; 17. Philly money maker; 36. Doctor Zhivago’s love; 50. Bête NOIRE; 57. “The Lion King” character voiced by Whoopi Goldberg; 63. KAMA Sutra; 72. Egyptians symbols of royalty; 80. Architect MIES van der Rohe; 91. French engineer Gustave; 105. Old theaters once owned by Howard Hughes.
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For today’s cartoons, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.

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11.09.08 -- Acrostic

In Search of Paradise


Detail from 1657 Visscher Map of the Holy Land or the "Earthly Paradise"
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Sunday, November 9, 2008
ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz
Today's acrostic quotation is from Eric Weiner's The Geography of Bliss, which is self-described by his web site as signaling “the arrival of the next great category of literary nonfiction: the philosophical self-help humorous travel memoir -- Weiner, a veteran foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, has covered a multitude of catastrophes and maladies from more than 30 countries over the past two decades. For The Geography of Bliss, however, he decided to tell the other side of the story by visiting some of the world's most contented places.”
The quotation: UNTIL THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY THE GARDEN OF EDEN APPEARED ON MAPS - LOCATED IRONICALLY IN WHAT IS NOW IRAQ EUROPEAN EXPLORERS PREPARED FOR EXPEDITIONS IN SEARCH OF PARADISE BY LEARNING ARAMAIC THE LANGUAGE JESUS SPOKE
The author's name and the title of the work: ERIC WEINER GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS.
The defined words: EUPHORIA; REDUX; INSPIRE; CAMPSITE; WESTEND; EARTHLY; IRELAND; NAKED APE; ENJOYMENT; REPENT; GLINDA; ORGAN STOP; GOSHEN; RAPHAEL; AFTERGLOW; PANACHE; HEAD SHOP; YAQUI; OXNARD; FASTEN; BOOGIE; LUCIFER; IRENIC; SEALION; STARTER.



For the complete post, go HERE.
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11.08.08

Publius et Praestrigia


Black Swan, Frederick Polydore Nodder, 1792
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Saturday, November 28, 2008
Puzzle by Byron Walden, edited by Will Shortz
FEDERALISTPAPER (8A. Writing of Publius) and CLOSEDCIRCUITTV (36A. Feeding tube?) share an I in the center of today’s crossword, probable precursors of the age of Big Brother in a crossword rife with associations, fast and loose, a wink at the past, a jolt of the present, and an eye on the future.
DONTLAUGH (33D. “No, really”), solving this puzzle might make for a delightful HARDDAY and SADTALES of DRAMA sans assistance of an AXE (23A. Innovation of the Paleolithic period) or being TECHSAVVY (14D. Like computer programmers) -- this one is no TRIFLE (16A. Gimcrack)!
It HURLS (24A. Jaculates) a LUGNUT, POOLCUES and EPEES to the sound of an ETUDE (46D. Many a Carl Czerny composition) or RHAPSODY, yea -- OLDMUSIC is DREAMTOF (1A. Saw in the dark?) while MASTIC and KNARS, PEASALAD (27A. Side dish popular at New Year’s), RYEBEERS and a DRUPE (29D. Plum, for one) are served for a no-FLAB cuisine. MEA and MIA RELAX at an OASIS (48D. Spring break?) lost in ILELONGUE, the ETO or ACRE.
SHIPAHOY (39A. 1942 Eleanor Powell musical set at sea) and 45A. “YIPPY Ky Yay (1998 country song), ATLAST we can PASS SAUCILY searching for SOLI among FATHA, ALANLADD or an IGUANA (54A. Relative of a chuckwalla) selling insurance -- why not?! Here LISZT joins a highly CENSED URBANV and EDWARDII, a triumvirate in awe of a moniker such as MCCASKILL, wishing ALL (21D. With 50-Down, like the children in “A Visit From St. Nicholas”) are SNUG (50D. See 21-Down) in their RELIABLE AFTERMATH or maybe THIS!
With it deception, illusion, tricks, hoodwink, juggling or just plain old praestrigia, this puzzle's a GAS (51A. Hoot)!
…hey, you’ve got MALE (5D. Like a cob) -- a swan song!
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the completet post, go HERE.



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