Tuesday

tuesday, february 05, 2008
peter a. collins / will shortz

ny times online premium crossword puzzle

















difficulty factor: another "in the pocket" puzzle



theme: as stated at 39A things hidden in 17-. 23-, 49- and 57-across HERBS...

17A DILL
23A MINT
49A SAGE
57A THYME


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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 ©2008 The New York Times
1. ashen5. decorative molding9. yellow shade14. gen. robt. _15. "look both ways before crossing," e.g.16. lax17. in front of a hydrant, say20. notice for late ticket-buyers, maybe21. "waking _ devine" (1998 film)22. ignited23. "uh-oh"27. cool, to a cat30. they might be near i.c.u.'s31. hair removal product32. tic-tac-toe loser33. atlanta university 36. fran of "the nanny"38. school lady39. things hidden in 17-. 23-, 49- and 57-across41. pawn42. loch ness monster, e.g.44. dictatorial45. umberto who wrote "the name of the rose"46. 1998 song by the goo goo dolls that was #1 for 18 weeks47. part of m.p.g.48. aurora's greek counterpart49. publicists54. nafta signatory55. opposite of post-56. only super bowl won by the new york jets57. business sessions that drag63. seed-to-be64. israel's abba65. french seas66. mythological reveler67. hair line68. zebras, to lions1. "taste that beats the others cold" sloganeer, once2. morning waker-upper3. "vive _!"4. "horrors!"5. directives6. father _ sarducci, longtime "s.n.l" character7. pipe joint8. epitome of slipperiness9. home of the casbah10. castle defense11. ex-hoopster manute _12. course for a recent emigre: abbr.13. king in un palacio18. contestant's mail-in19. the oscars of magazine publishing24. _ jean (marilyn monroe, affectionately)25. disrobe26. zinger27. ding dongs competitor28. board members, for short29. looney tunes pig33. maker of introductions34. _ polo35. snacks dipped in milk37. dusting or taking out the garbage39. "yippee!"40. lake _, outlet of the maumee river43. racetrack tout44. father 47. father, e.g.50. stab51. forty-_52. un gato grande53. girlish boy54. hard on the eyes57. _ lobos58. tv's longoria59. kook60. opposite of "naw"61. wall st. hire62. little troublemaker

Monday

monday, february 04, 2008
dave & tracy mackey/ will shortz

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difficulty factor: none to speak of



theme: parting niceties...

17A DON'T BE A STRANGER
37A STOP IN ANY TIME
59A Y'ALL COME BACK NOW


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dave and tracy, this was a great monday breeze!


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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 ©2008 The New York Times
1. "_ upon a time ..."5. like a score of 10 out of 1010. speedy14. "star wars" princess15. dated yet trendy16. knowing of17. "see you again!"20. longtime cbs and nbc newsman roger21. touchdown destination22. blacktops 25. tricky curves27. bud's partner in comedy28. had dinner29. _ b'rith30. coarse file31. "veni, vidi, vici" speaker 34. the "r" of npr 37. "see you again!"41. henry blake's rank on "m*a*s*h": abbr.42. many im recipients44. letterhead design47. "_ green" (kermit the frog song)49. snooze50. in the style of51. mah-jongg pieces 53. domineering 55. the dole 57. chief norse deity 59. "see you again!"64. suffix with sock65. ship-related66. lawman wyatt67. former cub _ sandberg68. entrap69. where "you can do whatever you feel," in a hit 1978 song1. outdated2. recent: prefix3. the reds, on scoreboards4. words on a wonderland cake5. steamed6. muffle, as a sound7. u.f.o. fliers8. kind of well9. michaels of "saturday night live"10. "happy days" cool cat, with "the"11. country north of namibia12. dictation takers13. shredded18. greyhound vehicle19. tv spots22. grp. funding 19-down in campaigns23. just slightly24. swerve26. "nobody doesnt like" her, in a slogan29. _-a-brac30. stir up32. lindbergh's classic flight, e.g.33. fitting35. actress cannon36. "how was _ know?"38. duke or earl39. restroom door word40. chapters in history43. austin powers, e.g.44. perry mason, e.g.45. clinton cabinet member hazel46. gasoline unit 48. weather map line51. tic-_-toe52. cattle branding tools53. lighter and pen maker54. perfectly pitched56. a polar bear might be found on one58. valley60. actress mendes61. 60's conflict site62. tolkien creature63. f.d.r. initiative

Sunday

SUNDAY, february 03, 2008
matt ginsberg / will shortz

just follow directions

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difficulty factor: there were a few brief moments with this where i was not very well-behaved.


theme: it really couldn't be any simpler... as the title says... JUST FOLLOW DIRECTIONS...

11A UPSIDE (DOWN) CAKES
29A PICKED (UP) SPEED
83A EASE ON (DOWN) THE ROAD
109A SETTING (UP) SHOP
113A STAND (UP) COMIC
34D TWO (LEFT) FEET

35D ALL (RIGHT) ALREADY
41D EXTREME (RIGHT) WING
54D OUT IN (LEFT) FIELD


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in the end, matt, the only thing i was remotely uneasy about was the lack of symmetry in the themed answers...


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13D Na2CO3 SODA ASH... will be right up there with... 64D disco term meaning "galore" -A-GO-GO


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5A totally accurate DEAD ON

11A pineapple desserts UPSIDE (DOWN) CAKE

22A 1974 mocedades hit ERES TU

23A careful consideration HARD LOOK

24A men's fashion accessories TIE CLIPS

26A cork shooter POP GUN

28A "biography" network A AND E

29A accelerated PICKED (UP) SPEED

30A threw off the scent MIS-LED

50A magneto's adversaries, in comic books X-MEN (the x-men were founded by the paraplegic telepath professor charles francis xavier [a.k.a. professor x]. the team's is a reference to the "'x' factor" - an unknown gene that causes mutant evolution. co-creator artist stan lee devised the series title after marvel comics publisher martin goodman turned down the initial name, "the mutants". in addition to this "official" explanation, the x-men are widely regarded, within the marvel universe, as well as by the readers of the series, to have been named after xavier himself... this is just not true! in uncanny x-men #309, lee - through character xavier - states that "the name 'x-men' was never intended to be a self-tribute)

67A become part of JOIN IN

81A repeated john gielgud role KING LEAR

83A popular song from broadway's "the wiz" EASE ON (DOWN) THE ROAD

103A 1997 jim carrey film LIAR LIAR

104A what a man and a woman become in marriage ONE FLESH

109A establishing a business SETTING (UP) SHOP

112A mary tyler moore co-star ED ASNER

113A seinfeld, for one STAND (UP) COMIC

1D sainted pope of a.d. 683 LEO II

10D mathematical sequence of unknown length N-TUPLE

13D Na2CO3 SODA ASH (sodium carbonate)

34D bad dancer's handicap TWO (LEFT) FEET

35D "enough!" ALL (RIGHT) ALREADY!

41D reactionary EXTREME (RIGHT) WING

54D quite wrong OUT IN (LEFT) FIELD

64D disco term meaning "galore" -A-GO-GO

69D "_____ angel,"1933 film "I'M NO..."


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28A "biography" network A AND E (arts and entertainment)

32A canonized mlle. STE. (sainte)

34A third word of "america" 'TIS (my country 'tis of thee...)

35A blue devils' and tigers' org. A.C.C. (college's.... atlamtic coast conference)

86A titanic message SOS (in international morse code, three dits [dots] form the letter 's', and three dahs [dashes] are the letter 'o'. 'sos' is the commonly used description for the international morse code distress signal (..._ _ _ ...), however, 'sos' is only part of the signal. used properly, the distress signal actually consists of a continuous sequence of three-dits/three-dahs/three-dits, all run together without letter or word spacing. so... does it mean... "save our ship" or "save our souls" or "save our seafarers"? worldwide, it is mostly commonly known by "save our souls"... but... these are all "backronyms" - phrases coined long after the initial development of the device or operation in question)

101A prefix with -zoic PALEO- (greek, very old; prehistoric, or primitive)

7D hydrocarbon suffix -ANE

10D mathematical sequence of unknown length N-TUPLE ('n' being "any possible, as of yet unknown" number)

18D u.r.l lead-in H.T.T.P. (hyper-text transfer protocol)

27D neighbor of switz. GER. (germany)

43D hero maker DELI (delicatessen)

61D geom. figure CIR. (circle)

69D "_____ angel,"1933 film "I'M NO..."

92D imagine, informally S'POSE (suppose)

102D relig. title MSGR. (monsignor)

105D anchorage-to-fairbanks dir. E.N.E. (east northeast... hmmm.. 58pacer [in "comments" below] and google maps both have a problem with this answer... they seem to agree that the direction is N.N.E.!)

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i'm takin' the rest of t'day... and most of monday off...


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42D flower also called a naked lady AMARYLLIS


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deterge? such an archaic medical reference in a sunday puzzle... who knew? be honest...


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 ©2008 The New York Times
1. artist's digs, maybe 5. totally accurate11. pineapple desserts18. "_, gorgeous!" (fanny brice's comment to herself when looking in the mirror)19. one of wine's gallo brothers20. autobiographical short story by edgar allan poe21. marisa of "what women want"22. 1974 mocedades hit23. careful consideration24. men's fashion accessories 26. cork shooter28. "biography" network29. accelerated30. threw off the scent31. checklist?32. canonized mlle.33. more encouraging34. third word of "america"35. blue devils' and tigers' org. 38. contact lens solutions 40. they're better than one 45. elton's johns47. blind element48. stereotypical reaction to elvis50. magneto's adversaries, in comic books51. lugs53. spread in a spread55. -56. passe57. -59. classic toyota sports cars61. _ bradshaw, "sex and the city" role62. wynken, blynken and nod, e.g.63. turf, as opposed to surf64. dancer alvin65. malodorous67. become part of68. imp71. place to get dates?72. fronded plant73. fictional submariner75. civil rights march site, 196576. family77. -78. wise80. -81. repeated john gielgud role83. popular song from broadway's "the wiz"86. titanic message87. arctic diver88. runs90. eponymous german electrophysicist92. begets96. things on strings97. deterge101. prefix with -zoic102. sitcom title role for brandy norwood103. 1997 jim carrey film104. what a man and a woman become in marriage 106. two-wheeled covered carriage108. hops-drying kilns109. establishing a business110. hero of bellini's "i puritani"111. anticipate112. mary tyler moore co-star113. seinfeld, for one114. feast1. sainted pope of a.d. 6832. ancient mexican people3. evidence of dandruff4. facilities5. -6. slips7. hydrocarbon suffix8. execrate9. bone formation10. mathematical sequence of unknown length11. _ bator12. a pop13. na2c0314. dental filling15. literature's lorna16. lose little by little17. -18. u.r.l lead-in20. israeli p.m. olmert25. they may be funny or bright27. neighbor of switz.30. educator maria31. subatomic particle that is a nuclear binder33. mideast money34. bad dancer's handicap35. "enough!"36. collected37. mistress39. bridges in hollywood40. the "ten" in "hang ten"41. reactionary42. flower also called a naked lady43. hero maker44. old dirk 46. unblemished48. lineage49. failings52. breezes (through)54. quite wrong56. business position58. word before and after "after"60. cross product61. geom. figure64. disco term meaning "galore"65. punch66. french sudan, today67. raspberry69. "_ angel,"1933 film70. scratch sheet listings72. slams74. fannie _ (securities)77. jupiter or mars79. _ gay.w.w. ii bomber82. ointment ingredient83. subject of the book "last flight"84. setting for "driving miss daisy"85. -88. call, or call on89. turkish pooh-bahs91. lake _, third-largest lake in africa92. imagine, informally93. sectioned, as a window94. prince valiant's wife95. tapestry threads96. -97. -98. month before lyar99. "socrate" composer100. first, in frankfurt102. relig. title103. lady's man105. anchorage-to-fairbanks dir.107. great ball of fire

Friday

saturday, february 02, 2008
natan morel last / will shortz

ny times online premium crossword puzzle

















difficulty factor: i didn't get stung too badly here, thanks to some very good guesses!


theme: none

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natan, another great puzzle!


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no time t'day!

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 ©2008 The New York Times
1. "the county chairman" playwright, 1903 4. hershey brand 8. tree14. spinners, for short15. southern university whose campus is a botanical garden16. interstice17. having the most pizazz19. cap and bells wearer20. convict22. meter readers?23. kind of batting stance24. nos.25. reddish-brown26. al-_27. big bang creator28. fifth qtrs.29. enforce the rules31. italian mine32. has as a foundation33. "rugrats" dad36. easter-related37. "_ now the very witching time of night": hamlet38. norm of "this old house"41. coup d'_ (survey made with a glance)42. part of a moonscape43. no longer under consideration44. tetris objectives45. like clayware46. seemingly silent types49. burns50. "she's gonna blow!"52. ferris bueller's girlfriend53. spoils54. where the utricle is55. like haunted houses, compared to ordinary houses56. good-looker57. the wildcats of the big 12 conf.1. hoelike cutting tool2. neighbor of somalia3. brewed drink4. checks5. two-time figure-skating olympic gold medalist protopopov6. snapped7. ecstatic8. option for wings9. smeltery input10. paraphrase, say11. a jiffy12. decides13. least spotted18. british p.m. when the u.s. constitution was signed21. quality that's hard to express22. event for a king and queen26. father of harmonia27. former giant robb _ 30. gymnastics move32. butt33. 1979 film with sequels ii to vi34. prophet of thebes, struck blind by athena when he accidentally saw her bathing35. drew on36. popular dish in an asian cuisine38. guide39. zyzzyva, e.g.40. malignity42. protein-rich paste44. certain softball pitch45. amendment that prevents being subjected to double jeopardy47. oscar-winning french film director _ clement48. article in hoy51. robert morse tony-winning role

friday, february 01, 2008
doug peterson / will shortz

ny times online premium crossword puzzle
















difficulty factor: i got roughed-up pretty badly over this one!



theme: none


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doug, i had a love/hate thing goin' on with this one... i loved most of the long/multi word answers... and i hated that my first guesses were way off!


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51. tickled the most PINKEST... funny stuff!
8. ape wrestlers GRAPPLE... GROAN! to ape [mimic] wrestlers


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 ©2008 The New York Times
1. temper8. ape wrestlers15. be negative about17. hobbes in "calvin and hobbes"18. went to a lower level19. prefix with 6-down20. body part above la bouche21. frames found in frames22. clubs: abbr.23. senora's step24. "a little _ the mightiest julius fell": shak.25. actress kimberly of "close to home"26. give away27. intimate28. tahini base29. well activity32. domesticates33. dramatic beginning34. with 44-down, cajun dish with giblets35. polynomial components36. subject of some conspiracy theories37. prez's first name on "the west wing"40. shot near the green41. little piggies?42. staff note43. ad follower44. playboy's plea?45. she's dangerously fascinating46. they're not easily overturned49. stereotypically smarmy sorts50. without much wind51. tickled the most?1. for one2. not at all sunny3. fit to be tried?4. id output5. mordant6. suffix with 19-across7. going by8. fred of "the munsters"9. hosts10. brand in a bathroom11. linguist mario12. before being delivered13. unfrequented14. chief goals? 16. smart22. exclusively23. british meat pie25. actress gray and others26. _-crowd (attendance booster)27. make like pac-man28. they're bound to work29. "heads up!"30. it stocks blocks31. less lax32. prepare for a shower, maybe 34. foundations, often36. aggressively ambitious37. basso hines38. hosts39. "who _?"41. august42. belarus's capital44. see 34-across45. longtime columnist who coined the term "beatnik"47. cloverleaf composition: abbr.48. second-century year