dannmann's NYT crossword puzzle ramblings

thursday, november 15, 2007
joe krozel / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle
















difficulty factor: again i caused myself more strife that creator kozel; i like this puzzle


theme: today we venture back and forth to palindrome park...

17A MUST SAVE VAST SUM
27A and 47A PAGE GAWKS AT TASK WAGE GAP
61A AERATE PIPET AREA


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in the "not necessarily explained just by the answer" category
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5A gin flavor SLOE (sloe gin is a deep maroon colored liqueur flavoured with the fruit of the blackthorn bush, sloe berries, that are a relative of the plum)

9A prince valiant's wife ALETA

14A unlucky board game square LOSE A TURN

20A extra winning opportunities SIDE BETS

34A annoy WEAR ON

36A 1960's singer terrell TAMMI (born thomasina winifred montgomery, was an american soul singer, and motown great marvin gaye protégée, most notable for her duets with him. in the fall of 1967 she collapsed into gaye's arms during a performance. she was diagnosed with a brain tumor that led to her death at the tender age of twenty-four)

38A it has m.s.g. in it NYC (new york city... has... madison square garden)

40A group-mailing aid E-LIST

41A "um ... sure" I GUESS

43A hot tub reaction AAH

45A line starter in "hot cross buns" ONE

A46A asian holiday TET ('têt nguyên dán' literally means "the first morning of the first day of the new year', and it is an all-consuming celebration of family, feasting, and firework that marks the beginning of spring, and the new year of the vietnamese lunar calendar)

52A completely FROM A TO Z

56A michigan is part of it BIG TEN (the big ten conference is the oldest div. I college athletic conference in the u.s. its member institutions are located primarily in the midwest, stretching from iowa and minnesota in the west, to pennsylvania in the east [which was added in 1990 to become the 11th team... do you see the '11' in the modified big ten logo?)

64A meeting IN SESSION

65A role played in films by chief thundercloud TONTO (born victor daniels, was an american character actor in westerns.much about him is either invented or interpreted; what can't be disputed is that he played 'tonto' in the movie 'the lone ranger' in 1938, and in the sequel 'the lone ranger rides again' the following year. he also portrayed 'geronimo' in 1939... however, it was jay silverheels (born harold j. smith) a canadian mohawk indian who portrayed tonto in the lone ranger television series from 1949 to 1957, as well as the films 'the lone ranger' in 1956, and follow-up 'the lone ranger and the lost city of gold' two years later)

66A overseas denial NEIN (german "no")

67A somewhat, musically POCO (as in 'poco allegro' : 'somewhat fast and bright')

1D landmark newport mansion, with "the" ELMS

3D a.a.a. member?: abbr. ASSN (automobile association of america)

5D ogle STARE AT

10D not bother LET BE

13D 20 places? ATMS (automated teller machines)

15D "_____ to remember," biopic on frederic chopin A SONG

18D play to _____ A DRAW

22D wilson of "wedding crashers" OWEN

24D minor, at law PETIT (as in petit larceny)

27D one-named supermodel EMME (born melissa "emme" aronson, is an american born "plus size" supermodel)

28D vessel in icy waters KAYAK

30D whence the line "they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind" HOSEA (bible... hosea 8:7 "they have 'planted on' the wind, and 'they will harvest the fruit' of 'controversy'; which is 'empty of nutrition')

31D ready ON TAP

37D "really?" IS THAT SO

44D star no more HAS BEEN

48D drop by STOP IN

53D defaulter's concern REPO (as in... car loan defaulter... reposession)

54D algerian port ORAN

55D fan's publication -ZINE (as in fan-zine)

59D fair-hiring org. EEOC (equal employment opportunity commission)

60D certain ipod NANO

62D tire meas. PSI (as in air pressure... which is measured in pounds... per square inch)


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in the "your mileage may vary" category:
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best clue of the day: 38A it has m.s.g. in it... delightfully deceitful; wickedly wonderful

best answer of the day: 52A FROM A TO Z... not the least bit forced... nice

worst clue of the day: 57D [oh ... my ... God!]

worst answer of the day: 10D LET BE... i'm sure it's just me, but i loathe that expression

the big eleven revealed:

keep on keepin' on...

dann
all elements of the puzzle (grid layout, clues, and answers), NYT, NY Times, and The New York Times logo are ©2007 The New York Times
1A eventful times 5A gin flavor 9A prince valiant's wife 14A unlucky board game square 16A intoxicate 17A palindromic thought about preparing to pay down massive debt 19A it might set off a light 20A extra winning opportunities 21A prefix with natal 23A sea flier 24A with 47-across, palindromic senate worker looks with amazement upon job payment inconsistency 29A "is that someone i should know?" 32A cheese in a ball 33A lemon _____ 34A annoy 36A 1960s singer terrell 38A it has m.s.g. in it 40A group-mailing aid 41A "um ... sure" 43A hot tub reaction 45A line starter in "hot cross buns" 46A asian holiday 47A see 24-across 50A seal 51A ukraine was one: abbr. 52A completely 56A michigan is part of it 61A palindromic plan for freshening part of a lab 63A boxes 64A meeting 65A role played in films by chief thundercloud 66A overseas denial 67A somewhat, musically 1D landmark newport mansion, with "the" 2D womanizer 3D a.a.a. member?: abbr. 4D preceders of spikes involleyball 5D ogle 6D cutesy letter closer 7D some bank deposits 8D is green? 9D like some ballots 10D not bother 11D latin 101 verb 12D talk up 13D 20 places? 15D "_____ to remember," biopic on frederic chopin 18D play to _____ 22D wilson of "wedding crashers" 24D minor, at law 25D bit of old wisdom 26D range 27D one-named supermodel 28D vessel in icy waters 29D squeeze out 30D whence the line "they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind" 31D ready 35D soother 37D "really?" 39D harsh cries 42D cook in a skillet, maybe 44D star no more 48D drop by 49D breakfast serving 50D feel the pain 52D how a painkiller should act 53D defaulter's concern 54D algerian port 55D fan's publication 57D [oh ... my ... god!] 58D small combo 59D fair-hiring org. 60D certain ipod 62D tire meas.