dannmann's NYT crossword puzzle ramblings

2008-02-05T12:56:00.000-05:00

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

2008-02-04T14:55:00.000-05:00

monday, february 04, 2008
dave & tracy mackey/ will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

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

2008-02-03T09:24:00.000-05:00

SUNDAY, february 03, 2008
matt ginsberg / will shortz
just follow directions
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

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

2008-02-01T23:27:00.000-05:00

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

2008-02-01T12:19:00.000-05:00

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

2008-01-31T06:45:00.000-05:00

thursday, january 31, 2008
paula gamache / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: not bad at all, except for the southwest corner

theme:

BREAK...

16A ...BREAD
22A ...OPEN
37A ...WIND
49A ...RANKS
59A ...APART
10D ...FREE
33D ...EVEN

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the past three days have been full of lawyers, doctors and aggravation for me, but paula, this was a very bright spot in my week! thank you!

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hmm... maybe... 20. n.b.a. center who has pitched for mcdonald's, pepsi and visa YAO MING or... 37D WAHINES (the maori and hawaiian word for "women") or... 58A "ich LIEBE dich" (which is german for "i love you")

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16A * not just stupid BRAIN DEAD
19A kerosene LAMP OIL
20A n.b.a. center who has pitched for mcdonald's, pepsi and visa YAO MING
22A * setting in sherlock holmes's "the man with the twisted lip" OPIUM DEN
37A * perplexed state WIT'S END
49A * informers RAT FINKS
59A * dessert made from a product of a 10-down APPLE TART
3D "ditto" SO AM I
4D blunders SLIP-UPS
5D "well, _!" LA-DI-DA
33D * fairy tale meanie EVIL QUEEN
42D cigarette box feature FLIP TOP
46D "how foolish _!" ...OF ME
53D squelch SIT ON

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9A homes for mil. planes A.F.B'S (air force bases)
13A object of a manhunt, maybe A.W.O.L. (absent without leave)
14A score just before winning AD-IN (in tennis... advantage in [-court], or server's advantage)
36A daily or weekly, e.g.: abbr. ADV. (they are both... adverbs!)
39A 1970's polit. cause E.R.A. (equal rights amendment)
45A co. with a triangular logo AOL (america online)
65A major rtes. HWYS. (highways)
66A ivy league school in philly PENN (pennsylvania state university)

as fly-away-girl was quick

to note... in a comment posted in yesterday's blog... that should be the university of pennsylvania... thanks for the heads-up, fly-away... and you've earned your "attention to detail" merit badge!

27D they replaced c rations M-R-E'S (meal, ready-to-eat)
30D short holiday? X-MAS (Christmas... i loathe this truncation!)
34D put back in STET (latin, "let it stand"... used by proofreaders to instruct the writer to disregard a change the editor had previously marked)

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. throw5. it may be found in a cone9. homes for mil. planes13. object of a manhunt, maybe14. score just before winning15. skylit courts16. * notjust stupid18. where william the conqueror died19. kerosene20. n.b.a. center who has pitched for mcdonald's, pepsi and visa 22. * setting in sherlock holmes's "the man with the twisted lip"24. the hots25. snow _26. les trois mousquetaires, e.g.28. strain31. "eat at _"34. shopaholic's delight35. canyon part36. daily or weekly, e.g.: abbr.37. * perplexed state39. 1970s polit. cause40. early sixth-century year41. partner of aids42. come clean, with "up"43. slippery swimmer44. "the _ report," 1976 best seller45. co. with a triangular logo47. grill49. * informers54. seven sisters grads57. major italian tourist site58. "ich _ dich" (german words of endearment)59. * dessert made from a product of a 10-down61. satyric looks62. sleeper _63. this and that64. "finnegans wake" wife65. major rtes.66. ivy league school in philly1. cellist casals2. "that's _!" (director's cry)3. "ditto"4. blunders5. "well, _!"6. _ hugo, 1975 isabelle adjani role based on a real-life story7. through8. granatelli of auto racing9. bits10. * orchard part11. "tres _"12. did a number15. stimulated17. 1890s gold rush city21. completely strange23. music download source27. they replaced c rations29. pretense30. short holiday?31. shade of green32. garfield's housemate33. * fairy tale meanie34. put back in37. some luau dancers38. resort island ese of valencia 42. cigarette box feature45. ocean rings46. "how foolish _!" 48. planetary shadow50. be in force, as a rule51. author zora _ hurston52. popular japanese beer53. squelch54. milan's teatro _ scala55. collateral option56. individually 60. church perch

2008-01-30T10:49:00.000-05:00

wednesday, january 30, 2008

peter a. collins / will shortz

ny times online premium crossword puzzle

2008-01-30T10:43:00.000-05:00

tuesday, january 29, 2008
c. w. stewart & j. k. hummel / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

2008-01-28T07:43:00.000-05:00

monday, january 28, 2008
michael blake / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: things managed t' take care of themselves t'day!

theme: 55. singing group suggested by the starts of 20-, 28- and 48-across THE CHIPMUNKS are indeed:

20A ALVIN
29A SIMON
48A THEODORE

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michael, i loved the theme!

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hmmm...

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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. baby's first word, in italy 6. commercials 9. touches14. skip _ (lose tempo)15. tennis do-over16. katmandu's land17. _ firma18. mai _ (tropical drink)19. "yum!"20. "future shock" author23. prefix with -lithic24. wetland25. antique restorer's efforts, for short 28. late hunter of nazi war criminals34. comedian philips35. aria singer36. brewing coffee produces one37. designer christian 39. semesters42. muslim holy man43. shake hands (on) 45. former senator trent47. _ dye (chemical coloring)48. "sister carrie" author52. airport schedule abbr.53. the 1919 treaty of versailles concluded it: abbr.54. directional suffix55. singing group suggested by the starts of 20-, 28- and 48-across 61. dragon ball z game company64. _ solo of "star wars"65. actress papas or ryan66. thesaurus author67. superlative suffix68. girlish laugh69. bullwinkle, for one70. letter between pi and sigma71. actress falco and namesakes1. _hari2. brother of cain and seth3. "_ griffin's crosswords"4. dolphins qb dan5. finished6. choir voice7. like most users of sign language8. cadavers, slangily9. insect or radio part10. yogi, for one11. fedex competitor12. tit for _13. crafty21. namely22. former auto executive lacocca25. clarence of the supreme court26. kind of class for expectant mothers27. noisy shouting28. anesthetize, say29. "put me down as a maybe"30. tied down, as a boat31. "_ changed my mind"32. country rocker steve33. prefix with lateral 38. old olds car40. "the _ squad" of b0s-70s tv41. throat problem44. first american to walk in space46. orkin target49. be in the red50. wealthier51. accustomed55. _ chic56. corned beef concoction57. absorbed by58. soda pop brand59. thigh/shin connector60. understands61. slot machine part62. excessively63. in the past

2008-01-27T00:44:00.000-05:00

SUNDAY, january 27, 2008
mike nothnagel / will shortz
i need my space
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: i stumbled... i picked myself up and brushed myself off... i stumbled... i picked myself up...

theme: a common expression is left slightly askew with the addition of a little "room"

24A AFRAID OF THE DARK ROOM
39A BRINGS HOME ROOM THE BACON
53A POWDER ROOM KEG
72A THE BALL'S IN YOUR COURT ROOM
92A GREEN ROOM PARTY
107A NO REST ROOM FOR THE WICKED
125A DAVY JONES' LOCKER ROOM

and there was plenty o' room left for me t' screw up time and again as well!

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mike, i thought we were headed to the world of cyber networking when i first saw the title... wrong!

oh, and i was in danger of hating this puzzle... til the theme revealed itself... and... in the end, i liked it a lot!

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in the "most googled" category
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maybe 49D host of public radio's "this american life" IRA GLASS... i dunno... maybe 100D "le misanthrope" playwright MOLIERE... 89D dict. listings SYNS. [dictionary... synonyms]...

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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6A. succeeded in WON AT
31A. imported by plane FLOWN IN
82A. give _____ of hope A RAY
84A. 1977 george burns film OH GOD!
117A. short-hop plane AIR TAXI
131A. handily defeated ACED OUT
3D. laredo or nuevo laredo BORDER TOWN
10D. 1976 horror film whose score won an oscar THE OMEN
18D. seldom-used golf club ONE IRON
19D. over AT AN END
39D. offer to buy at auction BID ON
49D. host of public radio's "this american life" IRA GLASS
50D. cubs' protector DEN MOTHER
58D. attempt to trick PUT-UP JOB
60D. analogy part ...IS TO...
67D. rap enthusiast, in slang B-BOY
85D. "right place wrong time" singer, 1973 DR. JOHN
99D. prescription phrase ...ONE A DAY...
101D. place for an elbow ARM REST
105D. singer with the #1 country album "80's ladies" K.T. OSLIN
110D. "this one's _____!" ON ME
112D. "now it's clear!" I SEE!

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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23A. suffix with absorb -ENT
36A. wally's tv brother, with "the" BEAV (from the tv show... 'leave it to beaver')
44A. part of a. a. r. p.: abbr. ASSN. (the organization was originally named "american association of retired persons", but to reflect that its focus has become broader than retirees - which is no longer a requirement- in 1999 it officially changed its name to just "AARP" [pronounced one letter at a time, "a-a-r-p"])
45A. first word of "jabberwocky" 'TWAS... (it was...)
57A. extremely inept person, slangily SPAZ (colloqi=uialism for 'spastic')
69A. it may charge you a fee A.T.M. (automated teller machine)
79A. esq. ATTY. (attorney)
87A. letter addenda, for short P.S.S. (post-script script)
90A. band with the 1989 hit "stand" R.E.M.
104A. ring stats T.K.O.'S (technical knock-outs)
11D. talks from a rev. SERS. (sermons)
12D. toll hwy. TPK. (turnpike)
36D. jaguar alternatives BMW'S (as in... vehicles from the bavarian motor works)
65D. kind of hall REC (recreation)
67D. rap enthusiast, in slang B-BOY (it this a stutter sound... or something worse?!)
75D. "_____ my fault!" IT'S... (it is...)
83D. turnaround, slangily U-EY (as in... a "u"-turn)
89D. dict. listings SYNS.
91D. brothers FRAS.
105D. singer with the #1 country album "80's ladies" K.T. OSLIN
126D. gridiron units: abbr. YDS. (football... yards)

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in the "other" category
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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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132A church support TITHE... i liked this one!

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
i. literary elephant 6. succeeded in 11. hot17. drag show accessory20. _ stadium, home of the university of hawaii warriors21. baseball hall-of-famer edd22. admonish23. suffix with absorb24. like a useless photo lab employee?27. stephen of "breakfast on pluto"28. dejected29. trespasses30. lineage31. imported by plane 33. tv oil baron35. "let's go, miguel!"36. wally's tv brother, with "the"38. take on39. offers breakfast to students before first period?43. marriage _44. part of a. a. r. p.: abbr.45. first word of "jabberwocky"46. put a rider on, e.g.47. it may be false48. game stopper 50. place for a panel52. director anderson53. beer sources for genteel guests? 57. extremely inept person, slangily 59. sharp turn62. _ arbor63. through64. cartoonist bil65. sauce thickener66. name in a hymn67. worthless talk, in slang69. it may charge you a fee70. casino surface71. mattress brand72. reminder to a forgetful judge on bowling night?78. early invader of britain79. esq.80. sette minus quattro81. utter82. give _ of hope83. functions84. 1977 george burns film86. fix87. letter addenda, for short90. band with the 1989 hit "stand"91. own (up)92. what talk show guests have before the broadcast?95. yowl96. playboy's look97. sloops' headsails98. sported99. poker game with four hole cards 102. see26-down 104. ring stats106. guest beds, often107. sign outside a church lavatory?113. stately trees114. work units115. satirical paper, with "the"116. they may be scattered117. short-hop plane119. potential hangar buildup120. on the safe side121. music with jazzlike riffs124. ruby _125. where a monkee changes after a game?130. "_ poetica"131. handily defeated132. church support133. 1964 quinn role134. still135. tasty bit136. pc key137. beginning1. barnyard calls2. _-romeo3. laredo or nuevo laredo4. "now it's clear!"5. cereal topping6. torts7. responses to punches8. crackpot9. religious retreats10. 1976 horror film whose score won an oscar11. talks from a rev.12. toll hwy.13. sports legend whose #4 was retired14. day spa accessories15. unfold16. "finding _,"2003 film17. eccentric friend on "designing women"18. seldom-used golf club19. over22. 1969 oscar-nominated film role25. little job for a body shop26. with 102-across, dashboard warning light 32. loud hits34. exert, as influence35. _ 1, yuri gagarin's spacecraft36. jaguar alternatives37. seventh-brightest star in a constellation39. offer to buy at auction40. meteorological effect41. steam shovel inventor william42. guthrie's follower at woodstock43. tv host kelly48. diva's effect49. host of public radio's "this american life"50. cubs' protector51. survey info52. increase, in away54. poland spring competitor55. owen _, john irving character56. "a maid with hair of gold," in an old song57. goes it alone58. attempt to trick59. "beetle bailey" soldier60. analogy part61. u.s. possession since 189865. kind of hall66. schmo67. rap enthusiast, in slang68. rob of'melrose place"70. damager of the ozone layer71. pouting person's action72. bygone leader73. fabled race loser74. reason for an office visit75. "_ my fault!"76. impulse77. paper purchases83. turnaround, slangily84. bauxite, e.g.85. "right place wrong time" singer, 197387. seminar leaders88. expensive strings 89. dict. listings 91. brothers92. beginning, as of an idea93. seine tributary94. stirred up, as memories95. blanket holder96. golden triangle country99. prescription phrase100. "le misanthrope" playwright101. place for an elbow102. one pulling in103. road bend104. italian province or its capital105. singer with the #1 country album "80's ladies"106. playful movement108. company with a star logo109. source110. "this one's _!"111. physical therapy equipment112. "now it's clear!"118. the first prophet of god, in islam119. awful120. feel compassion122. kind of beef123. part of a latin 101 conjugation126. gridiron units: abbr.127. java128. giant born in louisiana129. 1989 gold glove winner darling

2008-01-26T09:16:00.000-05:00

saturday, january 26, 2008
karen m. tracey / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: this was a
pleasure for a saturday morning!

theme: none

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in the "notes of record" category
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karen, this puzzle had it all! a yin/yang of equal number of across and down clues... some very familiar, some very obscure... a few smile-causers, a few groan-inducers... and a pangram t' boot! what a treat... very nice!

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in the "most googled" category
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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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1A cash cache, often COOKIE JAR

21A determined to execute SET ON

27A green vehicle ECO-CAR

30A it's prohibited by the telephone consumer protection act of 1991 JUNK FAX

57A what kids might roll down HILL SIDES

62A blues guitarist vaughan STEVIE RAY

7D peer group setting? JURY BOX

9D dwarf, maybe RED STAR

12D potential canine saver ROOT CANAL

13D personal manager MAJOR DOMO

30D "the thiefs journal" author JEAN GENET (jean genet was a prominent, controversial french writer and later political activist. early in his life he was a vagabond and petty criminal; later on he wrote novels, plays, poems, and essays, including 'querelle de brest', 'the thief's journal', 'our lady of the flowers', 'the balcony', 'the blacks', and 'the maids')

31D review unfairly, maybe UNDER-RATE

32D tops NUMBER ONE (not 'numero uno, dann!)

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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16A liner threat, once U-BOAT (u-boat is the anglicized and abbreviated version of the german word unterseeboot 'undersea boat', and usually refers to military submarines operated by the german military world war I and II)

44A sr.'s test G.R.E. (college seniors, who wish to persue post-graduate studies, take the graduate record examination which is a standardized, computer-based exam that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in english speaking countries. created and administered by the educational testing service [ets], the exam is primarily focused on testing abstract thinking skills in the areas of math, vocabulary, and analytical writing. The GRE is typically administered only at select, qualified testing centers)

3D ibid, relative OP. CIT. (op. cit. (latin, short for "opus citatum"/"opere citato," meaning "the work cited/from the cited work") is the term used to provide an endnote or footnote citation to refer the reader to an earlier citation. to find the op. cit. source, one has to look at the previous footnotes to find the relevant author)

11D drama honor OBIE (the obie awards, ["off-broadway theater awards"] are annual awards bestowed by the newspaper the village voice on off- and off-off-broadway theater artists performing in new york city. [the tony awards are given to broadway productions])

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in the "other" category
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15A happy OPPORTUNE (i have a small problem with this clue/answer combo... i thought that opportune means "suited for a particular purpose', or 'having advantageous overtones with respect to a time or place'. while those experiencing those things may make someone happy, i don't find them very synonomous... there... i'm done bitchin')

19A "isaac's storm" author larson ERIK (erik larson is an american author. "isaac's storm" is about the experiences of isaac cline during the galveston hurricane of 1900)

20A player of the queen mother in "the queen," 2006 SYMS (sylvia sims)

22A wanton type SATYR (satyrs appear predominantly in greek

mythology and are most often depicted as having the upper body of a man and the lower half of a goat, sometimes possessing horns, a long thick tail and constantly erect penis. they tended to engage in revelry with dionysus and often made nymphs the victims of their lecherous activites. as time has progressed they are now generally depicted as 'more human' with less animalistic characteristics, until only the tail remains to show that they are satyrs)

24A please, to pachelbel BITTE (johann pachelbel was a german composer, organist and teacher who composed a large body of sacred and secular music. his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place among the most important composers of the middle Baroque era)

29A they don't stay hot for very long FADS (some of the more memorable fads of the last century include: flagpole sitting [1920's]; (stamp collecting, goldfish swallowing [1930's]; poodle skirts, and bobby sox [1940's]; the hula hoop, phonebooth stuffing, and panty raids [1950's]; the twist, troll dolls, and yo-yos [1960's]; lava lamps, and tie-dye [late 1960's- early 1970's]; pet rocks, streaking, [1970's]; trivial pursuit, hacky sack, rubik's cube, cabbage patch dolls, garbage pail kids, "... on board" signs [1980's]; grunge, fanny packs, beanie babies, tickle-me elmo, roller blades, furbys [1990's]; and atkins diet, fantasy leagues, lo-rise jeans with rhongs, p2p file sharing, reality shows, plastic 'cause' wristbands, energy drinks, phone texting, sudoku [2000's])

37A kind of party PAJAMA (each year in march, the town of guerneville, ca. holds a big pajama party and pajama contest with prizes in categories such as best of show, pets, theme, couples, kids, groups, sexiest, and more. [bonus points for fuzzy slippers, curlers, face-packs, teddy bears, etc.] it's pretty bizarre!)

40A "new york city rhythm" singer MANILOW (listen/view here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P94c9BcPo-U)

41A bills NEBS (a neb is a beak, bill, nose, or snout)

42A "turandot" composer ferruccio _____ BUSONI (dante michelangelo benvenuto ferruccio busoni was an italian composer, pianist, teacher of piano and composition, music theorist, and conductor)

45A dad's rival BARQ'S (not pet food, dann!)

51A weasley family's owl, in harry potter books ERROL
53A breaking sticks CUES
55A minnelli of broadway LIZA
1D they're seedy CORES
2D glass work OPERA (philip glass is a three-time academy award-nominated american composer. He is considered one of the most influential composers of the late-20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public. he is a prolific composer: he has written ensemble works, operas, symphonies, concertos, film scores, and solo works)
5D hip-hop producer gotti IRV (irving "irv" domingo lorenzo, jr. is a prominent african-american/dominican hip hop and r&b record producer and is the head of the inc. record label [formerly murder inc.]... he is better known by his stage surname... gotti)

14D playwright/painter wyspianski STANISLAW (stanisław wyspiański was a polish writer, painter, and architect)

25D mine shaft tool TREPAN (trepanning produces a through-hole by axially cutting a peripheral circular groove that leaves a center core of uncut material... and while not a trepan drill, imagine a hole saw without the center drill bit on a much larger scale)
28D honeydew alternative CASABA
32D tops NUMBER ONE (noy 'numero uno, dann!)

33D cheryl's "charlie's angels" role KRIS (born cheryl jean stoppelmoor)

35D _____ raymonde, player of alex rousseau on "lost" TANIA

47D six-time grammy winner mary j. _____ BLIGE (listen/view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QAN7NOqXX4)

49D hyundai sedan AZERA

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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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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. cash cache, often 10. no surprise outcomes15. happy16. liner threat, once17. well again18. spanish table wine19. "isaac's storm" author larson20. player of the queen mother in "the queen," 200621. determined to execute22. wanton type24. please, to pachelbel26. shout across the seine?27. green vehicle29. they dont stay hot for very long30. it's prohibited by the telephone consumer protection act of 1991 34. vitamin a36. toughens37. kind of party38. general equivalent40. "new york city rhythm" singer41. bills42. "turandot" composer ferruccio _44. sr.'stest45. dad's rival46. iranian filmmaker kiarostami51. weasley family's owl, in harry potter books53. breaking sticks55. minnelli of broadway56. biblical woman who renamed herself mara57. what kids might roll down59. old lab items akin to bunsen burners60. darkroom equipment61. cold weather62. blues guitarist vaughan1. they're seedy2. glass work3. ibid, relative4. crackpot5. hip-hop producer gotti6. "vous _ ici"7. peer group setting?8. peaked9. dwarf, maybe10. ill-prepared worker?11. drama honor12. potential canine saver13. personal manager14. playwright/painter wyspianski23. direct25. mine shaft tool28. honeydew alternative29. the yasawa islands are part of it30. "the thiefs journal" author31. review unfairly, maybe32. tops33. cheryl's "charlie's angels" role35. _ raymonde, player of alex rousseau on "lost"39. reels40. light white wine 43. look askance 45. rapture47. six-time grammy winner mary j. _48. patient one49. hyundai sedan50. fresh52. it has an exclave on the strait of hormuz54. pomeranian or dalmatian58. asian honorific

2008-01-25T09:11:00.000-05:00

friday, january 25, 2008
david quarfoot / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: moderately tough, but maximally satisfying

theme: none

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in the "notes of record" category
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david, just seeing your name gave me pause, but my fleeting trepidation was largely unfounded... this was a really good friday puzzle!

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in the "other" category
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i must attend the funeral of a very dear friend's father-in-law... he was a great fella...

time for only one elaboration t'day...

43D swee' pea's creator E.C. SEGAR (after taking a $20 correspondence course in cartooning - twenty lessons at a buck a piece - elzie crisler segar [SEE-gar, like the colloquial pronunciation of the cylindrical tobacco contrivance] created his newspaper comic strip "thimble theater," in 1919. the oyl family - dad 'cole' and mom 'nana', 'olive' and brother 'castor', and their friend ham gravy were the comic's leads for the first decade of its run. the rest of olive's kin included cousin 'sutra' oyl, her uncles 'lubry kent' and 'otto' oyl, and her niece 'deezil' oyl. it wasn't until 1929, when castor oyl needed a mariner to navigate his ship to dice island, that he picked up a funny-lookin' old salt down by the docks named 'popeye'. and the rest, as they say, is history! the popeye character "stole the show" and became the permanent featured character. some of the other notable characters segar created include 'j. wellington wimpy', 'eugene the jeep', and 'swee' pea' who is popeye's adopted son... the tyke arrived in popeye's mail in an express package on july 24, 1933... and is christened almost a month later "by the names of 'SCOONER seawell georgia washenting, christiffer columbia, daniel boom'"... hmmm... not a 'swee' pea' in sight! read more about naming swee' pea at: http://www.popeyespoopdeck.com/sweepea.htm)

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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call me quirky, but i really loved 2D it forbids religious tests for political office ARTICLE VI [of the united states costitution: "... no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the united states]

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. war-torn baghdad suburb 9. 23-across and others15. one and only16. weather channel topic17. fleet runner of myth18. key that doesnt include 58-across19. up to20. ape22. habit23. shade shade25. biblical miracle setting26. powerful piece27. boarding spot29. call from home31. 1936 n.l leader in slugging percentage33. brooklynese pronoun34. pilot's place37. part of manhattan's alphabet city39. "be honest"41. onetime serbian capital42. show some spunk44. drops in a theater45. japanese model sold from 1970 to 200647. meccan pilgrim48. some speakers 51. abbr. before a date53. underhand?54. zip55. spotter's confirmation57. polit. label58. it's almost a b, scorewise 60. pilot's place62. apple application63. fancy haberdashery item64. no longer in65. judge of films1. henry clay or william jennings bryan2. it forbids religious tests for political office3. versatile actors may play them4. person found in a tree: abbr.5. buck6. corinthian alternative7. it might hold a couch potato's potato8. really hoped to get, with "for"9. it can be drafted10. _ bark beetle11. stuck12. 11 1/2" soldier13. online memo14. archaeologist david who found the lost roman city of kourion21. made some waves?24. word in some british place names26. put out28. school exercises30. zoo de madrid beasts32. shade of blue34. enter gently35. head of state known to his people as "dear leader"36. "of course"38. exclamations40. piehole43. swee' pea's creator45. edmond rostand hero46. calm48. composed49. direccion sailed by columbus50. british poet tate52. track-and-field equipment55. _ dixit56. 1982 film title role for bruce boxleitner 59. traffic stopper 61. school dept.

2008-01-24T10:08:00.003-05:00

thursday, january 24, 2008
matt ginsberg / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: some minor, self-inflicted wounds

theme: it's all 'splained at... 63A words missing from the answers to the eight starred clues HIT THE...

13A ...PINATA
15A ...ROAD JACK
19A ...CAMPAIGN TRAIL
37A ...GROUND RUNNING
55A ...NAIL ON THE HEAD
62A ...BULL'S EYE
28D ...FLOOR
31D ...SKIDS

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in the "notes of record" category
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matt, this was a very enjoyable puzzle!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

as anonymous noted in the comments below... it is indeed "dIan", not "dEan" (as originally posted) at 16D... hmm... something about 'haste' and 'waste' comes to my mind...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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in the "most googled" category
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i never would've guessed it, but it looks like... 49A fictional c.i.a. unit on "alias" A.P.O. (in the american tv series 'alias', "authorized personnel only" is a fictional black-ops unit within the central intelligence agency)

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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40A corrida chant OLE! OLE!
59A vein locale COAL MINE
7D morgue id TOE TAG
43D mrs. woody alien SOON YI
45D entertaining OPEN TO

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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6A not rx O.T.C. (over the counter)
21A announcement to passengers, for short E.T.A. (estimated time of arrival)
29A baseball stat. AVG. ([batting] average)
31A where wounded knee is: abbr. S. DAK. (south dakota)
48A star wars, briefly S.D.I. (strategic defense initiative)
51A calif, setting P.S.T. (pacific standard time)
64A the usual amts. STDS. (standards)
11D stomach acid, to a chemist H Cl (hydro-chloric)
26D ticker tape letters? E.K.G. (e.k.g. is an abbreviation from the german word 'ElektroKardioGramm')
34D johannesburg-to-nairobi dir. N.N.E. (north northeast)
35D telephone triad M-N-O (go ahead, check... they're sittin' right there next t' the '6'
40D a.m. drinks O.J.'S (orange juices)
56D shakespeare title starter ALL'S (all is...)
59D "the dukes of hazzard" network C.B.S. (columbia broadcasting system)

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in the "other" category
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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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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. locks horns (with)6. not rx9. phil who sang "draft dodger rag"13. *party game15. *1961 chart-topper for ray charles17. stems (from)18. how trapeze artists perform19. *vie for votes21. announcement to passengers, for short22. taint23. rand who asked "who is john gait?"24. dolly, for one27. you, to you, or me, to me29. baseball stat.31. where wounded knee is: abbr.32. mrs. dick cheney 35. "mother of all rivers" 37. *get off to a quick start40. corrida chant41. hair net42. hockey great jaromir43. swell place?44. exclusive48. star wars, briefly49. fictional c.i.a. unit on "alias" 51. calif, setting54. escape _55. *get it exactly 59. vein locale61. classic studebaker whose name means "forward" in italian62. *shoot perfectly63. words missing from the answers to the eight starred clues64. the usual amts.65. served, as time66. gym bag items1. gets all ditzy2. capt. sparrow, e.g.3. zooid4. laryngitis symptom5. tick off6. algerian port in "the plague"7. morgue id8. have as a channel9. california hometown of the six million dollar man and the bionic woman10. selected11. stomach acid, to a chemist12. what's up? 14. largest of a septet 16. naturalist fossey 20. 10 benjamin franklins25. designer vera26. ticker tape letters?28. *react to gunfire, maybe30. chapter's partner31. *fail33. actor brynner34. johannesburg-to-nairobi dir.35. telephone triad36. musician brian37. pleased38. _ jeeves of p. g. wodehouse stories39. inappropriate40. a.m. drinks43. mrs. woody alien45. entertaining46. abominate47. swirls49. targets50. carried on, as a trade52. bygone potentate53. walter who wrote "the hustler" and "the color of money"56. shakespeare title starter57. straits58. doth own59. "the dukes of hazzard" network60. unsafe?

2008-01-23T08:10:00.000-05:00

wednesday, january 23, 2008
henry hook / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: i was all outta sorts with this one!

theme:

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in the "notes of record" category
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while i'm sure some will rave about this puzzle, i, for one, was left feeling unsatisfied, incomplete, and a bit off-kilter... oh, hell, it's prob'ly just me...

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in the "most googled" category
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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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1A "and _ bed" SO TO

15A delete X-OUT

20A "she's like the wind" singer, 1988 PATRICK SWAZE (listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C0-I_vDc34&feature=related)

36A aster MICHAELMAS DAISY (michaelmas daisy is a frost hardy, bushy, wild aster... growing best in boggy, moist conditions... especially one blooming on or about michaelmas [which is the feast of st. michael the archangel celebrated yearly on september 29])
45A tabby HOUSE CAT

55A like some days of summer, in song LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY (LISTEN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuMGeW1N9EI&feature=related)

26D "bye" SEE YA!

33D winter carnival structure ICE PALACE

37D on the line AT HAZARD

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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17A not an orig. IMIT.

42A half-oz. TBSP.

43A part of the dept. of homeland security since 2003 F.E.M.A. (federal emergency management agency)

44A agent, for short REP. (representative)

39D fighting tigers' sch. L.S.U. (school... louisiana state university)

48D film lover's cable choice A.M.C. (american movie classics)

58D employee cards and such, briefly I.D.'S (identity [cards])

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in the "other" category
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9A some spanish surrealist paintings MIRO'S (joan miró ferra was born in barcelona, and at his parents’ insistence he was trained as a bookkeeper, but he rebeled and studied art and founded "agrupació courbet", a group of young artists who opposed themselves to conservative traditions in catalan art)
14A like some traffic, for short THRU
20A "she's like the wind" singer, 1988 PATRICK SWAZE (listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C0-I_vDc34&feature=related)

24A c's in shop class? CLAMPS
30A ginger _____ ALE
31A _____ and span SPIC
35A soul singer corinne bailey _____ RAE
49A hadrian's predecessor TRAJAN (marcus ulpius nerva traianus, commonly known as trajan was a roman emperor who reigned from 98 to 117ad)
51A musical based on a t. h. white novel CAMELOT (the 1960 musical camelot, by alan jay lerner and frederick loewe, is based on t. h. white's literary version of the legend, 'the once and future king' which consisted of five books: the sword in the stone, the witch in the wood, the ill-made knight, the candle in the wind, and the book of merlyn)
55A like some days of summer, in song LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY (LISTEN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuMGeW1N9EI&feature=related)

58A she said "don't get mad, get everything!" IVANA (born ivana marie zelnícková is a former olympic athlete [on the 1968 czechoslovakian olympic ski team] and fashion model also noted for her celebrity brand and marriage to [and subsequent divorce from] mogul donald j. trump)

62A to say in spanish? DECIR

63A la citta eterna ROMA (the eternal city... rome)

66A cannon of "heaven can wait" DYAN
1D michael of r.e.m. STIPE (john michael stipe is the lead singer of the american rock band r.e.m. stipe has become well-known (and occasionally parodied) for the "mumbling" style of his early career and for his complex, surreal lyrics, as well as his social and political activism)
3D travis who sang "t-r-o-u-b-l-e" TRITT (born james travis tritt)
5D bettor's option EXACTA (the bettor must pick the two horses which finish first and second, in the right order)
9D its motto is "manly deeds, womanly words" MARYLAND
11D longtime "hollywood squares" regular ROSE MARIE (born rose marie mazetta)
12D tv planet ORK
29D mendes or longoria EVA
38D sister magazine of jet EBONY
50D title girl with a gun in a 1989 aerosmith hit JANIE (LISTEN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVKdLQnfSJs)

54D english drama critic kenneth TYNAN (kenneth peacock tynan was an influential and often controversial british theatre critic and writer)

58D employee cards and such, briefly I.D.'S

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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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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. "and _ bed"5. personification of desire9. some spanish surrealist paintings14. like some traffic, for short15. delete16. call off, as in an emergency17. not an orig.18. field unit19. perilous20. "she's like the wind" singer, 198823. understanding24. c's in shop class? 27. something detested30. ginger _31. _ and span34. square35. soul singer corinne bailey _36. aster41. raiser oftarzan42. half-oz.43. part of the dept. of homeland security since 200344. agent, for short45. tabby49. hadrian's predecessor51. musical based on a t. h. white novel55. like some days of summer, in song58. she said "dont get mad, get everything!"60. attention getter61. any minute now62. to say in spanish?63. la citta eterna64. superboy's girlfriend65. spirited mount66. cannon of "heaven can wait"67. property attachment1. michael ofr.e.m.2. "jeez!"3. travis who sang "t-r-0-u-b-l-e"4. public relations effort5. bettor's option6. rise rapidly7. willa gather's "one of _"8. hasenpfeffer, for one9. its motto is "manly deeds, womanly words"10. resort island near majorca11. longtime "hollywood squares" regular12. tv planet13. what a mess!21. wayfarer's refuge22. high spots25. cellular biology material26. "bye"28. rope fibers29. mendes or longoria31. stylish32. tootler33. winter carnival structure37. on the line38. sister magazine of jet39. fighting tigers' sch.40. despite expectations46. dermatologist's case47. caribbean's _ islands48. film lover's cable choice50. title girl with a gun in a 1989 aerosmith hit52. veranda53. a high flier may fly in it54. english drama critic kenneth56. obdurate57. sailor hailer58. employee cards and such, briefly59. dog doc

2008-01-22T06:18:00.000-05:00

tuesday, january 22, 2008
adam g. perl / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: none to speak of

theme: the three principal characters at the fictional 57A DAILY PLANET...

lois 21A LANE
clark 28A KENT
perry 47A WHITE

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in the "notes of record" category
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good puzzle, adam!

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in the "other" category
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way too busy 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. ooze5. neighbor of kan.9. go after14. island dance15. do perfectly16. go online17. final notice?18. coastal flier19. take away little by little20. diana ross musical, with "the"21. they require signals23. neptune's domain24. _ carte25. number of operas composed by beethoven26. play the slots, e.g.28. ohio university whose team is the golden flashes34. fancy flapjacks37. comstock _38. touch with a hanky, say39. pro _ (proportionately)40. slacks material42. facts and figures43. baseball bat wood44. p p p, in greek45. liechtenstein's language 47. fibs50. stephen of "the crying game"51. beehive state native52. timeline division54. carpet fuzz57. publication that is the key to this puzzle's theme62. conk out63. tunesmith's org.64. "that's a shame"65. exec's note66. peach pit67. treat with grandmotherly love, with "on"68. kitchen dial site69. sharpened70. proofer's mark71. takes as one's spouse1. exhibits2. blake of jazz3. 1998 role for cate blanchett4. butter slice5. n.ba's shaquille6. egyptian temple site7. airport delay?8. guinness of stage and screen9. make spotless10. big buzzer11. bug-eyed12. slaw, e.g.13. hydrocarbon suffixes21. after the buzzer22. "oh, goody!" 27. air quality grp.29. beethoven dedicatee30. "smoking or _?"31. genesis duo32. "ciao!"33. israel's abba34. sticking point?35. too hasty36. haul, slangily41. _ polloi42. rap's dr. _ 44. entered again 46. part of q.e.d.48. new orleans school49. hundred on the hill 53. bowling alley button55. pointed56. doers of drudgery57. track meet event58. regarding59. revered one60. little shavers61. jillions65. use a lawn-boy, e.g.

2008-01-21T03:36:00.000-05:00

monday, january 21, 2008
andrea carla michaels / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: 'twas a bit of a cinch!

theme: y' gotta be in it for the long haul...

17 WIN BY A NOSE
38 LOSE ONE'S BALANCE (OR)
61 DRAW A BLANK

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in the "notes of record" category
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andrea, this is my kinda monday puzzle!

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in the "most googled" category
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hmmm...

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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17A triumph, but just barely WIN BY A NOSE

33A find a new purpose for RE-USE

38A fall off a beam, e.g. LOSE ONE'S BALANCE

61A momentarily forget (or get lucky in scrabble?) DRAW A BLANK

3D led off WENT FIRST

28D capital of manche, france ST. LO

35D sworn to tell the truth UNDER OATH

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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35A org. with admirals U.S.N. (united states navy)

66A suffix meaning "little" -ETTE

11D online commerce E-TAIL (electronic retail)

28D capital of manche, france ST. LO

31D "the star-spangled banner" land U.S.A. (united stastes of america)

34D wnw's opposite E.S.E. (west northwest... east southeast)

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in the "other" category
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5A dopey or doc DWARF (the dwarf's song 'hi ho': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AkKnLMELo)

16A great salt lake's state UTAH

19A hawaiian island MAUI
21A actor ed of "daniel boone" AMES
43A ice cream holders CONES
60A mastercard rival VISA
65A ship from the mideast OILER
67A m&m's that were removed from 1976 to 1987 out of a health concern for a coloring dye REDS
2D shallowest great lake ERIE
4D amount of hair cream DAB (a "must see": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRcRIbExrfg)

10D popular newspaper puzzle subtitled "that scrambled word game" JUMBLE
12D finnish bath SAUNA
25D comic johnson ARTE (arthur stanton eric johnson)
37D loch _____ monster NESS
55D fox hit "american _____" IDOL
59D scandinavian furniture giant IKEA
63D actor ayres LEW (lewis frederick ayre III)

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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61A momentarily forget (or get lucky in scrabble?) DRAW A BLANK... hmmm... a double clue on a monday puzzle... and a theme answer at that?!

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. lascivious 5. dopey or doc 10. say jokingly 14. zone 15. more unusual 16. great salt lake's state 17. triumph, but just barely 19. hawaiian island 20. badminton court divider 21. actor ed of "daniel boone" 22. declining in power 24. false fronts 27. god, to muslims 28. smug smiles 30. tv, slangily.with "the" 32. legal wrong 33. find a new purpose for 35. org. with admirals 38. fall off a beam, e.g. 42. baseballer mel 43. ice cream holders 44. fusses 45. politico gingrich 46. marks that look like inverted v's 48. pago pago's locale 51. less drunk 54. graduates 56. opposite of an intro, musically 57. parisian yes 60. mastercard rival 61. momentarily forget (or get lucky in scrabble?) 64. barely earned, with "out" 65. ship from the mideast 66. suffix meaning "little" 67. m&m's that were removed from 1976 to 1987 out of a health concern for a coloring dye 68. a ton 69. command to a steed 1. home tun? 2. shallowest great lake 3. led off 4. amount of hair cream 5. all soap operas, basically 6. declined in power 7. got up 8. thing, in legal briefs 9. unoccupied, as a theater seat 10. popular newspaper puzzle subtitled "that scrambled word game" 11. online commerce 12. finnish bath 13. chicken piece 18. talk idly 23. biblical tower site 25. comic johnson 26. cigar ends 28. capital of manche, france 29. no longer worth debating 31. "the star-spangled banner" land 33. leases 34. wnw's opposite 35. sworn to tell the truth 36. glaswegian, e.g. 37. loch _ monster 39. atlantic or pacific 40. at this moment 41. swiss river 45. wanderers 46. trees whose wood is used for chests 47. united _ emirates 48. lifeguard, at times 49. similar 50. meditated (on) 52. city between gainesville and orlando 53. took a curtain call 55. fox hit "american _" 58. "render therefore _ caesar..." 59. scandinavian furniture giant 62. _ de janeiro 63. actor ayres

2008-01-20T07:18:00.000-05:00

SUNDAY, january 20, 2008
natan morel last / will shortz
triangulation
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: this was a bit of a toughie, for a sunday, methinks

theme/title: triangulation... well... sorta... the circles that start at 81 when viewed in a counterclockwise direction, spell out: 'TRIGONOMETRY".

this "cramalot" involves putting the abbreviation for the three most common trigonometric functions [sine = SIN, cosine = COS, and tangent = TAN] into six answer squares, using each twice...

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in the "notes of record" category
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ouch, natan, i wasn't expecting such a workout! i'm certain i could come up with five good excuses, starting with... being tired... and... not feeling well... and...

but what's the point?! when it's all said an' done, this was a likeable bit of a battle for a sunday!

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in the "most googled" category
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hmmm... maybe... 5D quark-plus-antiquark particle MESON

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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12A "the simpsons" character who often refers to himself in the third person DISCO STU
20A "_____ tale's best for winter": shak. A SAD...
22A how mulan dresses in much of "mulan" AS A MAN
24A something to play CAT AND MOUSE
34A "where _____ go wrong?" ...DID I...
44A "dont worry about me" I'M FINE
62A when the sun is directly overhead AT MID DAY
64A combined IN ONE (not... 'whole'... lo-cal...)
67A facilities REST ROOMS
73A thin-framed, big-footed woman of cartoons OLIVE OYL
78A chest protector RIB CAGE
87A "notes _ scandal," 2006 film ...ON A...
88A skateboarder's accessory KNEE PAD
100A gag reflex? HA HA!
115A drink whose name is tahitian for "good" MAI TAI
3D whence the line "into the eternal darkness; into fire and into ice" DANTE'S INFERNO
5D "that _____ it should be" ...IS AS...
7D pc data reader CD DRIVE
10D working out of BASED IN
11D what those in agreement are said to be of ONE MIND
13D bats IS UP
15D "seinfeld" character COSMO KRAMER
16D "catch your breath" TAKE A REST
28D place for surfing THE 'NET
38D second showing RE-RUN
40D wish one could LONG TO
44D query to the lord in matthew IS IT I?
47D "love of loves" MY DARLING
49D in the blink of _____ AN EYE
53D oaf SAD SACK
63D maria muldaur's "_ woman" I'M A...
70D like things TWO PEAS IN A POD
74D "that makes sense!" I GET IT
79D "do what you want" I DON'T CARE
84D it was passed in may 1773 TEA ACT
102D when some nighttime news begins AT TEN
116D "_ in icarus" (1979 french thriller) I, AS...

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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4A i.r.s. form 1099-_____ MISC. (miscellaneous)
39A bird: prefix AVI-
52A single, for one: abbr. SYN.
54A sinai borderer: abbr. ISR. (israel)
55A king in a steve martin song TUT (tutankhamun)
81A subject of this puzzle [and proceeding counterclockwise] TRIGO-
83A summons: abbr. CIT. (citation)
96A big picture?: abbr. ENL. (enlarge[ment])
99A songwriters' org. B.M.I. (broadcast music incorporated)
119A x-ray _, joke shop offering SPEX (a thrashing of 'spectacles')
8D three-time a.l. m.v.p., familiarly A-ROD (Alex RODriguez0
12D court figs. D.A.'S (district attorneys)
28D place for surfing THE 'NET (the internet)
30D star wars, initially S.D.I. (strategic defense initiative)
57D see 81-across -EMONO-
65D like some diet colas, in brief NO-CAL. (no calories)
98D "_ miniver" MRS.

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in the "other" category
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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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(for relevence of the above graphic... see comments)

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. magazine that features "alfred's poor almanac" 4. i.r.s. form 1099-_ 8. early pulpit 12. "the simpsons" character who often refers to himself in the third person 18. speedy steed 20. "_ tale's best for winter": shak. 21. reddish-brown 22. how mulan dresses in much of "mulan" 23. fielder's cry 24. something to play 26. numbers game 27. they're left behind 29. turns in 31. old infantry spears 32. saw things 33. "_ bias" (lesage novel) 34. "where _ go wrong?" 36. procter & gamble brand 37. one succumbing to 6-down 39. bird: prefix 40. it might be silver 42. be in another form 44. "dont worry about me" 46. archbishop tutu 48. censures 50. some players in a kids' game 52. single, for one: abbr. 53. as quickly as possible 54. sinai borderer: abbr. 55. king in a steve martin song 56. star in old westerns 58. home of canadian p.m. stephen harper 59. freight weight 60. "great" boy detective 62. when the sun is directly overhead 64. combined 67. facilities 69. creepy sort 73. thin-framed, big-footed woman of cartoons 75. indian bread 77. lilliputian 78. chest protector 81. subject of this puzzle [and proceeding counterclockwise] 83. summons: abbr. 85. words of honor? 86. thought 87. "notes _ scandal," 2006 film 88. skateboarder's accessory 90. rim in which a gem is set 91. guessing game 95. flat _ (some proponents of i.r.s. reform) 96. big picture?: abbr. 97. jazz singer nina 99. songwriters' org. 100. gag reflex? 101. cordoba kinswoman 103. bring (out) 104. bagel topper 105. strip joints? 108. buttonholes 110. new york governor after pataki 113. place 115. drink whose name is tahitian for "good" 117. like any points on a circle, from the center 119. x-ray _, joke shop offering 120. sandinista leader 121. pipsqueak 122. judge .with "up" 123. went like the dickens 124. mixed economy advocate 125. salty septet 126. disney world transport 127. galas 1. "speed-the-plow" playwright 2. greet the day 3. whence the line "into the eternal darkness; into fire and into ice" 4. medieval weapon 5. "that _ it should be" 6. see 37-across 7. pc data reader 8. three-time a.l. m.v.p., familiarly 9. pouty look 10. working out of 11. what those in agreement are said to be of 12. court figs. 13. bats 14. _ hawkins day 15. "seinfeld" character 16. "catch your breath" 17. "_ pro omnibus, omnes pro uno" 19. 1950s stereotype 25. joan rivers's daughter and tv co-host 28. place for surfing 30. star wars, initially 33. flit (about) 35. highlighted, as text 38. second showing 40. wish one could 41. comprehensive 43. spanish pronoun 44. query to the lord in matthew 45. quark-plus-antiquark particle 47. "love of loves" 49. in the blink of _ 51. not just hungry 53. oaf 56. inebriate 57. see 81-across 61. place for a swing 63. maria muldaur's "_ woman" 65. like some diet colas, in brief 66. makes up? 68. power in hollywood 70. like things 71. chest material 72. listens to 74. "that makes sense!" 76. bottom of the _ 78. the owls of the n.c.a.a. 79. "do what you want" 80. aggressiveness 82. played 84. it was passed in may 1773 89. poop 91. store on "sesame street" 92. relic 93. don juan 94. put the kibosh on 98. "_ miniver" 102. when some nighttime news begins 106. alamogordo's county 107. makes attractive, with "up" 108. every which way 109. wizard 111. kind of melt 112. jerry scott/jim borgman comic 113. anthem part 114. tabloid twosome 116. "_ in icarus" (1979 french thriller) 118. how every letter to the economist begins

2008-01-19T01:32:00.000-05:00

saturday, january 19, 2008
david j. kahn / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: not at all the bear the last few saturdays have been!

theme: none... but the thirteen letter crosses in the center are somewhat related...

36A ORIENT EXPRESS
15D HERCULE POIROT

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in the "notes of record" category
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david, this was that rarest saturday anomaly... a puzzle that could be greatly enjoyed... while still going through the process!

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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14A warm up, as leftovers RE-HEAT

15A freak out HAVE A COW

17A embassy issue? EXIT VISA

21A 1993 rap hit with the repeated lyric "bow wow wow yippy yo yippy yay" DRE DAY (ice t's full title is "fuck wit' DRE DAY")

36A see 15-down ORIENT EXPRESS (site of an infamous murder by author agatha christie)

40A rise partly SIT UP

54A lit ON FIRE

59A infer READ INTO

63A put on the line, perhaps AIRED OUT

66A having one's feet up, say AT EASE

2D love all ZERO - ZERO

3D simon & garfunkel hit after "mrs. robinson" THE BOXER (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOkigFvxLrk&feature=related)

9D new york city transportation option METRO-NORTH

12D certain diet restriction NO-SALT

15D noted 36-across passenger HERCULE POIROT (agathie christie's famed, fictional french detective)

28D christmas song favorite since 1949 SLEIGH RIDE

38D refuge SAFE AREA

42D comparatively bulky AS LARGE

44D entered GONE IN

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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31A part of many cultural venue names: abbr. CTR. (center)

43A gridiron stat: abbr. F.G.'S (field goals -3 pts)

48A platters' platters players HI-FI'S (high fidelity record players of the late 1950's thru early 1970's)

58A univ. of _____, alma mater of joe namath and bart starr ALA. (alabama)

4D affirmative action letters E.E.O. (equal employment opportunity)

33D prefix with parasite ENTO-

62D _____ lyman & his california orchestra, popular 1920s-'40s band ABE (born: abraham simon lymon... he and his brother mike "americanized" the spelling of their last name in their early teens)

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in the "other" category
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7A mekong river sights SAMPANS (a sampan - derived from the cantonese words sam [three] and pan [plank] - is a simple, relatively flat-bottomed wooden vessel approximately twelve to thirty feet long, and is generally propelled by oars, but may be fitted with an outboard motor and used for fishing or transportation by rural residents in coastal areas or rivers of southeast asia)

18A short cut BOB (the arrangement of the hair - especially a woman's - in an all-around short cut and hair style)

22A big name in sportswear IZOD

26A role in a tchaikovsky ballet ODILE

27A battlers, at times SEXES (the shield and spear of the roman god mars - which is also the alchemical symbol for iron - represents the male sex... the hand mirror and comb of the roman goddess venus represents the female sex)

29A fiat headquarters TURIN
46A "dead souls" novelist GOGOL (russian author nikolai gogol)
51A gulf of _____, body of water next to viet nam SIAM

56A jim beam and others RYES
64A sportscaster with the catchphrase "oh, my!" ENBERG (richard alan "dick" enberg is an american sportscaster. he is one of the most prominent and respected play-by-play announcers in network television history, with a career spanning more than forty years. he is recognizable by his trademark exclamation, "oh, my!")

7D adolphe with an instrument named after him SAX (antoine-joseph 'adolphe' sax was a belgian musical instrument designer and musician (clarinetist), best known for inventing the saxophone)

23D actress mazar and others DEBI'S
25D rabbit food? TRIX
37D water towers? TUGS (as in... ship "tow"-ers... although just as often these incredibly powerful little boats actually push!)

39D father-and-son comedic actors STILLER'S (ben & jerry)

52D title role for maria callas in her only film MEDEA
55D mercury-atlas 5 rider ENOS (mercury-atlas 5 was an american un-manned spaceflight of the mercury program. it was launched just after 3pm on november 29, 1961 and recovered intact - after two orbits - a little over three hours later... with enos, a chimpanzee, aboard)

57D turned on SENT (as in... the 1950's expression "you send me..." [you turn me on]... or... turning on electrical current and sending power to... ?!)

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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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47D romantic narrative LAY (a lay, in its most archaic usage is a narrative poem - or ballad such as sung by medieval minstrels; a poem that is sung: a song)

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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the 'express' and 'poirot' crosses were pretty cool

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. mesoarnencans of old 7. mekong river sights 14. warm up, as leftovers 15. freak out 16. small cavity, as around a cactus spine 17. embassy issue? 18. short cut 19. look at a playboy club? 21. 1993 rap hit with the repeated lyric "bow wow wow yippy yo yippy yay" 22. big name in sportswear 24. concordat 26. role in a tchaikovsky ballet 27. battlers, at times 29. fiat headquarters 31. part of many cultural venue names: abbr. 32. shrill 34. long rides? 36. see 15-down 40. rise partly 41. echelons 43. gridiron stat: abbr. 46. "dead souls" novelist 48. platters' platters players 49. indisposed 51. gulf of _, body of water next to viet nam 53. bring down 54. lit 56. jim beam and others 58. univ. of _, alma mater of joe namath and bart starr 59. infer 61. higher-priced 63. put on the line, perhaps 64. sportscaster with the catchphrase "oh, my!" 65. superlatively derogatory 66. having one's feet up, say 1. mideast expert, maybe 2. love all 3. simon & garfunkel hit after "mrs. robinson" 4. affirmative action letters 5. _ letters 6. acclivitous 7. adolphe with an instrument named after him 8. not blase 9. new york city transportation option 10. hard-top 11. sharp 12. certain diet restriction 13. influential one 15. noted 36-across passenger 20. down 23. actress mazar and others 25. rabbit food? 28. christmas song favorite since 1949 30. little terrors 33. prefix with parasite 35. letter finisher 37. water towers? 38. refuge 39. father-and-son comedic actors 42. comparatively bulky 43. groups of plants 44. entered 45. what a game plan leads to? 47. romantic narrative 50. helped, in a way, with "over" 52. title role for maria callas in her only film 55. mercury-atlas 5 rider 57. turned on 60. when repeated, an old-fashioned cry 62. _ lyman & his california orchestra, popular 1920s-'40s band

2008-01-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

friday, january 18, 2008
trip payne / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: after i reined-in my crappy attitude, not too bad at all

theme: none

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in the "notes of record" category
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trip, i felt stupid, terrible, not so bad, pissed-off, good... then, vindicated by this puzzle... a great friday!

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in the "most googled" category
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i gotta admit this one surprises me, but it looks like... 44D tv star who said "stop gabbin' and get me some oats!" MR. ED

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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14A suddenly ALL AT ONCE

16A steely dan hit of 1972 DO IT AGAIN

21A _____ clue GET A... (not... "not a..." which really put me in a terrrible spot for WAY too long)

30A moliere comedy THE MISER

35A properly filed IN ORDER

49A classic mystical book by khalil gibran THE PROPHET

55A gulf of taranto's locale IONIAN SEA

59A guided missile sections NOSE CONE

61A have as an appetizer START WITH

11D pilgrims leave them HOME LANDS

12D not randomly arranged IN A SERIES

30D beach house arrangement, perhaps TIME SHARE

32D rotary motions SIDE SPINS

33D be a big success GO FAR

39D directorial demand RE-SHOOT

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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15A stereo receiver button PHONO (phonograph)

26A certain sale item: abbr. IRR. (irregular)

43A suffix with darwin -IST (not "-ian"... or "-ism"... aaaaarrrggh!)

44A "divine" showbiz nickname MISS M (as in... bette midler)

4D r.f.k. stadium player, for short NAT. (as in... the washington nationals)

36D subway series locale, for short N.Y.C. (new york city)

41D thing with a life of its own? BIO. (biography)

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in the "other" category
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1A drawing power MAGNETISM

16A steely dan hit of 1972 DO IT AGAIN (listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLya_2sNuUA)
18A t-formation participant END (while it is no longer in popular use, the 't formation' is the grandaddy of most modern offensive set-up formations in football, in that it places the quarterback directly behind the center [as opposed to 'the single wing' of olde-tyme football, which had the quarterback receiving the ball on the fly.] the t formation set-up signaled a short-med distance running play that consists of three backs lined up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback, forming the shape of a t. in a variation known as the 'power t', it might feature two tight ends; in a variation known as the 'split t', it might feature a tight end and wide receiver [in this case known as a split end])
24A georgia _ of "the mary tyler moore show" ENGEL (born georgia bright engel is an american television actress best known as uber naive georgette franklin baxter on 'the mtm show' from 1972 until the show ended in 1977. the role earned her two emmy nominations)
28A six-time all-star third baseman of the 1970s dodgers CEY (ronald charles "ron" cey [SAY] is a former third baseman who started his pro career with the los angeles dodgers [1971-82])
33A canadian equivalent of the oscar GENIE
37A "cooking with astrology" author OMARR
38A "moon over parador" star, 1988 DREYFUSS
41A you wouldn't sit for a spell in this BEE
58A echo, e.g., in greek myth OREAD (in greek mythology, an oread [or orestiad] was a type of nymph that lived in mountains, valleys, and ravines, who differed from each other according to their dwelling... echo was a mountain nymph who loved her own voice. in an act of vengeance, her voice was taken away from her, except in foolish repetition of another's shouted words. thus, all echo could do was repeat the voice of another)

60A _____ atomic dustbin (english rock band) NED'S
5D _____ carinae (hypergiant star) ETA (eta carinae is a highly luminous hyper-giant double star. estimates of its mass range from 100 - 150 times the mass of the sun, and its luminosity is about four million times more than that of the sun. this object is currently the most massive nearby star that can be studied in great detail. eta carinae and the bipolar homunculus nebula which surrounds the star. the homunculus was partly created in an eruption of eta carinae whose light reached earth in 1843. eta carinae itself appears as the white patch near the center of the image, where the two lobes of the homunculus touch)
8D journal with an annual "breakthrough of the year" award SCIENCE ('science' is the weekly published academic journal of the american association for the advancement of science [aaas] and is considered one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals. the journal is peer-reviewed, and has a print subscriber base of around 130,000. because institutional subscriptions and online access serve a larger audience, its estimated readership is one million people)

10D detective in "the shanghai cobra" CHAN
15D "the amazing race" host keoghan PHIL
20D thing on a ring KEY
23D hard-to-break plates ARMOR (plate armour is personal armour made from large metal plates, worn on the chest and sometimes the entire body)
45D prometheus society alternative MENSA

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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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29. "ode to broken things" poet NERUDA (pablo neruda, was the penname and, later, legal name of the chilean writer and communist politician neftalí ricardo reyes basoalto.

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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56D ACT... and 57D NOW... love it or hate it, it is what it is... side by side and... cute

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. drawing power 10. soigne14. suddenly15. stereo receiver button16. steely dan hit of 197217. villain in the book of esther18. t formation participant19. cunning 21. _ clue24. georgia _ of "the mary tyler moore show"25. perishable fashion accessory26. certain sale item: abbr.28. six-time all-star third baseman of the 1970s dodgers29. ancient fragrance30. moliere comedy33. canadian equivalent of the oscar34. filled treat35. properly filed37. "cooking with astrology" author38. "moon over parador" star, 198840. "buona _"41. you wouldn't sit for a spell in this42. no-goodnik43. suffix with darwin44. "divine" showbiz nickname46. motivational cries49. classic mystical book by khalil gibran52. brood : chicken :: parliament: _54. asian title55. gulf oftaranto's locale58. echo, e.g., in greek myth59. guided missile sections60. _ atomic dustbin (english rock band)61. have as an appetizer1. not natural2. lengthwise3. skate4. r.f.k. stadium player, for short5. _ carinae (hypergiant star)6. attire7. witless8. journal with an annual "breakthrough of the year" award9. where the wild things are?10. detective in "the shanghai cobra"11. pilgrims leave them12. not randomly arranged13. weigh15. "the amazing race" host keoghan20. thing on a ring22. earth, en espanol23. hard-to-break plates 27. 18-wheeler29. "ode to broken things" poet30. beach house arrangement, perhaps31. no longer gloomy32. rotary motions33. be a big success34. beta decay emission, sometimes 36. subway series locale, for short 39. directorial demand 41. thing with a life of its own?44. tv star who said "stop gabbin' and get me some oats!"45. prometheus society alternative47. egypt's mubarak48. honeybun50. potpie ingredients51. top-_ (leading) 53. secure, in a way56. with 57-down, commercial entreaty57. see 56-down

2008-01-17T09:04:00.000-05:00

thursday, january 17, 2008
matt ginsberg / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: i screwed up several times here... i was way out of the zone for this puzzle...

theme: "hidden" film titles...

15. TEQUILA 16. SUNRISE
34. TREASURE 37. ISLAND
41. ANIMAL 42. CRACKERS
63. BLAZING 64. SADDLES

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in the "notes of record" category
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matt, in retrospect, i don't know why i had such a nasty time with this one! while it was straight forward an' "thursday tough", somethin' i can't quite put a finger on (more than 8D alone) jus' threw me a lot further off than was necessary... oy vey!

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in the "most googled" category
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8D "oy, vey!" cause TSURIS ([yiddish] aggravating trouble)

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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8A 1958 sci-fi classic starring steve mcqueen THE BLOB
50A very OH-SO
58A 1984 film with the tagline "it's 4 a.m., do you know where your car is?" REPO MAN (as in... car repossion due to loan default)
29D admit LET IN
33D explanatory phrase ID EST

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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48A "the guiding light" airer C.B.S. (columbia broadcasting system)
3D 1/64 of a checkerboard, maybe: abbr. SQ. IN. (square inch)
10D film developing order: abbr. ENL. (enlarge)
26D org. ASSOC, (association)
27D parade honoree, briefly ST. PAT (saint patrick)
30D '04, '08 and others YRS. (years)
32D hwy. planners ENGRS. (engineers)
40D class of '08 in '08, e.g. SRS. (seniors)
62D dietary std. R.D.A. (recommended daily allowance)

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in the "other" category
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more later... maybe!

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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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8D "oy, vey!" cause TSURIS ([yiddish] aggravating trouble)

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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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. learns8. 1958 sci-fi classic starring steve mcqueen15. jose cuervo, for one16. ---17. director ivan18. most monstrous19. taylor, wilson or harding20. rear-_22. book in the book of mormon23. "that's all i _"24. rice dish27. place for a houseplant30. column of boxes on a questionnaire31. defendants, legally 34. prize 37. ---39. supporters of the arts40. plague41. brute42. ---43. altoids holder44. saint of dancers46. once, in old times47. letters before gimels48. "the guiding light" airer50. very53. jazz's peterson55. it may be said while crossing the fingers58. 1984 film with the tagline "it's 4 a.m., do you know where your car is?"61. a deadly sin63. of tremendous fervor64. ---65. holiday meals66. bun toppers1. pivoting razor2. existed3. 1/64 of a checkerboard, maybe: abbr.4. so last year5. country singer with the 1997 triple platinum hit "how do i live"6. fill in the _ (a hint to this puzzle's theme)7. ocean liner?8. "oy, vey!" cause9. show of affection10. film developing order: abbr.11. give a rundown12. it may be on a property13. bone: it.14. red and black, perhaps 21. flexible blade 23. startle25. classic camera26. org.27. parade honoree, briefly28. tabriz native29. admit30. '04, '08 and others31. not so well done32. hwy. planners33. explanatory phrase35. dry white36. dark38. st. _ (common hospital name)40. class of '08 in '08, e.g.42. ornery sort45. risque beachwear47. sauce48. venae _ (major blood vessels)49. some fasteners50. the sun, moon and stars51. toolbar heading52. boom54. famous mama55. what each completed pair of theme answers in this puzzle is56. frozen drink brand57. former first lady59. "0 patria _" ("aida" aria)60. "so ...?" 62. dietary std.

2008-01-16T10:57:00.000-05:00

wednesday, january 16, 2008
barry c silk / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: although i never was "in the zone" with this one, it had more of a tuesday feel about it, for me...

theme: perplexion o' plenty pervades the puzzle...

20A MYSTERY
32A PROBLEM
41A PUZZLE
55A ENIGMA

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in the "notes of record" category
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barry, this one, while entertaining enough, lacked a certain wednesday energy, bite, or zing t' me... oy, maybe i'm being too jaded...

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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time rushed by me t'day with other endeavors... to my sister patti in sunny florida: happy birthday kiddo!

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. gets one's feet wet? 6. frizzy do 10. pop group whose music was the basis of a hit 2001 broadway musical 14. hut material 15. a lot of pizzazz? 16. some socials 17. rid of vermin 18. french chalk mineral 19. corporal punishment unit 20. 1999 russell crowe movie 23. something to shoot for 25. n.r.c. forerunner 26. scorecard listing 27. fielder's cry 29. potter's need 31. "the racer's edge" 32. parent's handful 35. _ club (retail chain) 36. cyclotron particle 37. deplaned, e.g. 41. nickname for the national security agency 46. the monkees'"_ believer" 49. scholarship consideration 50. popped up 51. "groovy!" 53. orch. section 54. qb stats 55. w.w. ii encryption device 59. fretted fiddle 60. whittle 61. in a pique 64. last word in an ultimatum 65. getz of jazz 66. dispatch boat 67. black flag alternative 68. manhattan, e.g. 69. reveal one's feelings 1. tobacco buy 2. suffix with cannon 3. campus quarters 4. 24/7 auction site 5. shove off 6. san diego state player 7. goose bumps cause 8. depend (on) 9. last king of the united sweden and norway 10. travel aid 11. coarse sorts 12. two- or three-pointer 13. black key 21. french noodle? 22. lounge 23. domino features 24. red fort city 28. cookbook amt. 29. dress down 30. "die frau _ schatten" (strauss opera) 33. baseball's johnny, known as the big cat 34. mustachioed surrealist 38. end of the road, possibly 39. like some coffee 40. gymnastics coups 42. e pluribus _ 43. fraternity founded in 1847 at new york university 44. walkway 45. stork's bundle 46. assuming, hypothetically 47. 1975 "thrilla" city 48. melodic passages 52. looked libidinously 53. public to-do 56. dojo accessories 57. asia's _ sea 58. campbell of "three to tango" 62. "_ beso" 63. mafia figure

2008-01-14T23:55:00.000-05:00

tuesday, january 15, 2008
stella daily & bruce venzke / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: this was tuesday-ish all the way

theme: as stated in 71A this puzzle's theme SOAPS...

17A ZEST FOR LIFE 63A TONE OF VOICEIVORY TOWER 29D COAST GUARD

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in the "notes of record" category
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the tag team of stella and bruce appears twice in three days... with another nice puzzle! mmm... lotsa oft-neglected consonants: "v's" an' "z's," an "x," a "k"... great!

i like starting in the lower right corner... first clue and i knew the theme... well, i thought i did... i thought it was gonna be the "other" soaps... soap operas... oh, well...

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in the "most googled" category
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i don't have a guess here...

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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31A speed-happy driver LEAD FOOT

47A fantastically wonderful TO DIE FOR

57A diner sign filler NEON GAS

24D didnt stay on CAME OFF (not "fell off"... what an unnecessary mess that was!)

45D 90210, for beverly hills ZIP CODE

49D significant OF NOTE

60D rent-_ (security person for hire) A-COP

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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11A org. with a code I.R.S. (internal revenue service)

16A old _____, london theater VIC (the theatre was founded in 1818 and named "the royal coburg theatre." in 1833, it was renamed the "royal victorian theatre" after the heir to the throne princess victoria. in 1880, it became "the royal victoria hall and coffee tavern"... but for many years it was already affectionately known as the "old vic")

43A "_____ a tramp" ("lady and the tramp" tune) HE'S

4D prefix with matter ANTI- (not, or against)

8D cbs forensic drama C.S.I. (crime scene investigation)

22D bout decision T.K.O. (technical knock-out)

27D part of m.i.t.: abbr. TECH. (massachusetts institute of technology)

30D some e.r. cases O.D.'S (over-doses)

42D first drug approved to treat aids A.Z.T. (AZidoThymidine is an anti-retroviral drug, the first approved for treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (h.i.v.) which is a retrovirus that can lead to Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections)

65D prefix with dermis EPI- (which can mean: on, upon... over, above... around, close to, near... besides... or... after)

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in the "other" category
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14A singer davis with the 1998 hit "32 flavors" ALANA (it is erroneously credited to alexis davis here, but it the right version... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmPZbrZpRuY&feature=related)

26A "south park" kid KYLE (kyle broflovski)

27A preceder of bell or shell TACO
35A castle protector MOAT

43A "_____ a tramp" ("lady and the tramp" tune) HE'S (see/hear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ769enS62M)

44A singer pinza EZIO (ezio pinza was one of the outstanding an italian bass opera singers of the first half of the 20th century. he spent twenty-two seasons at new york's metropolitan opera, appearing in more than 750 performances of fifty operas. herte he is singing "some envchanted evening" with mary martin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1qpQb11YWc)

46A popular setting for a wedding GAZEBO

50A snare TRAP
53A arctic bird PUFFIN
55A newswoman katie COURIC
69A newsman koppel TED
70A fix, as laces RETIE (the absolute fastest, best way to tie a shoelace knot... the "ian knot": http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm)

1D _____ strip (much-fought-over area) GAZA

2D british p.m. _ douglas-home ALEC (the 14th earl of home (pronounced "HOOM"), alexander frederick douglas-home, better known as sir alec douglas-home, was, in 1963, named prime minister by queen elizabeth II, after the unexpected resignation of harold macmillan. for the first time in over sixty years, a sitting prime minister was a member of the house of lords rather than of the house of commons. he was the only prime minister to renounce his peerage to leave the house of lords and contest a by-election to enter the house of commons)
10D famous virginia family LEES (as in ... the robert e. lee's)

12D pepsi vis-a-vis coke RIVAL
37D singer mcentire REBA
52D peter of "m" LORRE (m... nero-films, 1931, directed by fritz lang, with peter lorre as "hans beckert", the child-murderer)

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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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23A prank player RASCAL... and... 9D "our gang" kid ALFALFA... splendid cross!

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. some charity fund-raisers 6. outspoken 11. org. with a code 14. singer davis with the 1998 hit "32 flavors" 15. airplane seat choice 16. old _, london theater 17. joie de vivre 19. lab eggs 20. accomplish 21. star-related 23. prank player 26. "south park" kid 27. precederofbell or shell 31. speed-happy driver 33. book in which the first passover occurred 35. castle protector 36. middle-earth meanie 39. teacher's charge 40. paris's _ invalides 41. colder and windier 43. "_ a tramp" ("lady and the tramp" tune) 44. singer pinza 46. popular setting for a wedding 47. fantastically wonderful 50. snare 51. daughter of czar nicholas I or II 53. arctic bird 55. newswoman katie 57. diner sign filler 62. _-la-la 63. speaking manner 66. go wrong 67. proficient 68. o.k. 69. newsman koppel 70. fix, as laces 71. this puzzle's theme 1. _ strip (much-fought-over area) 2. british p.m. _ douglas-home 3. whip 4. prefix with matter 5. like wearing a seat belt, e.g. 6. lombardy province or its capital 7. de-squeak 8. cbs forensic drama 9. "our gang" kid 10. famous virginia family 11. lofty place for an academic 12. pepsi vis-a-vis coke 13. symbol of justice 18. racetracks 22. bout decision 24. didnt stay on 25. kerfuffles 27. part of m.i.t.: abbr. 28. highway toll unit 29. its academy is in new london, conn. 30. some e.r. cases 32. _ vez (again, in spanish) 34. preowned 37. singer mcentire 38. wheat, barley or beans 40. in _ of 42. first drug approved to treat aids 45. 90210, for beverly hills 46. feeling of loss 48. person obeying a coxswain 49. significant 51. four duos 52. peter of "m" 54. super stars 56. _-tass news agency 58. court plea, informally 59. tributary of the colorado 60. rent-_ (security person for hire) 61. wraps (up) 64. snare 65. prefix with dermis

2008-01-14T06:41:00.000-05:00

monday, january 14, 2008
robert dillman / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: a minor, self-caused injury only

theme: good signs...

17A END ROAD WORK 60A PRIZE INSIDE 11D JUST MARRIED 25D FREE KITTENS 26D VACANCY

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in the "notes of record" category
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thanks, robert, for this fun, easy monday fare...

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in the "most googled" category
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maybe... 47A arizona's petrified forest dates from this period TRIASSIC... or... 49D despotic ruler SATRAP

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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other than the themed answers, there's only one... 47D group of cups and saucers TEA SET

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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1A bay state sch. U. MASS. (university of massachusetts)

19A reverse of n.n.w. S.S.E. (north northwest... south southeast)

28A prefix with potent OMNI-

33A org. for the humane treatment of pets S.P.C.A. (society for the prevention of cruelty to animals)

46A cousin of a keogh, briefly I.R.A. (individual retirement account)

59A fr. holy woman STE. (french... sainte)

66A dark time, in poetry E'EN' (evening)

68A weights abroad, informally KILOS (kilograms)

69A scores in the end zone, for short TDS (touchdowns)

6D academics' degrees PH.D.'S (doctors of philosophy)

8D grp. that entertains the troops U.S.O. (united service organizations)

38D the "s" in cbs: abbr. SYS. (columbia broadcasting system)

64D suffix with official -DOM

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in the "other" category
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6A juicy fruits PLUMS

20A dollar or budget competitor AVIS
26A 7 on a grandfather clock VII
43A safe box opener KEY
44A white _ (termites) ANTS
47A arizona's petrified forest dates from this period TRIASSIC
55A heavy hammer SLEDGE
2D "_____ in black ." will smith film MEN
22D _____ dame NOTRE (french, our lady)

52D nickname for elizabeth BESSIE (i had 'bettie'... then 'betsie'... before i got the right one!)

62D actress caldwell ZOE

65D twisty curve ESS

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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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49D despotic ruler SATRAP

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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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. bay state sch. 6. juicy fruits 11. target of many a boxing blow 14. sophomore's grade 15. old testament prophet 16. "it's no _!" 17. good sign on a highway 19. reverse of nnw 20. dollar or budget competitor 21. like the season before easter 23. floated gently in the air 26. 7 on a grandfather clock 28. prefix with potent 29. use a rasp on 30. comment on, as in a margin 32. expected 33. org. for the humane treatment of pets 35. bobby of the n.h.l 36. alcoholics anonymous has 12 of them 39. once around a track 40. catnip and fennel 43. safe box opener 44. white _ (termites) 46. cousin of a keogh, briefly 47. arizona's petrified forest dates from this period 50. optimistic 53. sups 54. "_ luck?" 55. heavy hammer 56. bear witness 58. consequently 59. fr. holy woman 60. good sign on a candy box 66. dark time, in poetry 67. vice president burr 68. weights abroad, informally 69. scores in the end zone, for short 70. velocity 71. appears 1. western tribe 2. "_in black ."will smith film 3. & 4. layers 5. acted rudely while in a line, maybe 6. academics' degrees 7. high's opposite 8. grp. that entertains the troops 9. magician in arthurian legend 10. hot japanese drink 11. good sign on a car trunk 12. concurrence 13. ineffectual one, slangily 18. helpers 22. _ dame 23. bankrolls 24. be next to 25. good sign on a lawn 26. good sign at a motel 27. not well-put 31. "that feels gooood!" 34. "above the fruited _" 37. kind of porridge 38. the "s" in cbs: abbr. 41. boast 42. fill the stomach of 45. dish often served with 10-down 47. group of cups and saucers 48. squealed (on) 49. despotic ruler 51. sets (down) 52. nickname for elizabeth 57. places to be pampered 58. manage, as a bar 61. anger 62. actress caldwell 63. _ de france 64. suffix with official 65. twisty curve

2008-01-13T03:36:00.000-05:00

SUNDAY, january 13, 2008
stella daily and bruce venzke / will shortz
baby talk
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: i tripped ove myself a few times with this one

title/theme: baby talk... oh, let's take some common expressions... and cutesy 'em up by switchin' the 'L' that belongs in the original, with a 'W'... and let the hilarity ensue... by the way, there's a good-old, well-reknowned name that gets twice the treatment!

28A WEST WE FORGET [LEST...]
45A PATENT WEATHER [...LEATHER]
65A GIANT WIZARD [...LIZARD]
89A ART WINK WETTER [LINKLETTER]
107A WAKE VICTORIA [LAKE...]
3D WIFE GOES ON [LIFE...]
6D WED ASTRAY [LED...]
16D WEFT BEHIND [LEFT...]
69D TOE THE WINE [...LINE]
75D MEMORY WANE [...LANE]
81D SICK WEAVE [...LEAVE]

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in the "notes of record" category
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i often wonder about the workings of two authors... who brought what to the table and who fought for what... in any case this stella daily, bruce venzke sunday offering is a real beauty (with some tuesday cluing?!)

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in the "most googled" category
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79D illustrator for charles dickens PHIZ (hablot knight browne was the english illustrator of 10 books over 23 years for charles dickens. he took on the nickname "phiz" to complement dickens' "boz". eventually, browne's comic/satiric style of illustration did not fit well with dickens' later, more serious novels, and after the somewhat disappointing illustrations for "a tale of two cities," he would never work for dickens again. he went on to illustrate the best-known novels of charles lever and harrison ainsworth in their original editions, and his work was in constant demand by publishers until a stroke paralyzed him in 1867, permanently diminishing his considerable artistic powers.

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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1A "come on ... be good, kids" ...NOW! NOW,

24A went too far OVER-SHOT

27A mark who won the masters and british open in 1998 O' MEARA

49A ralph nader and ross perot ALSO RANS

52A brought on LED TO

73A lose one's marbles GO MAD

78A what to follow in the forest FOOT PATH

105A mover left or right ARROW KEY

5D "s.n.l" alum cheri O' TERI

8D add pep to LIVEN UP

9D "what _____!" ("this place needs cleaning!") ...A MESS!

13D so far UP TO NOW

46D elite A-LIST

47D didn't walk or go by subway, say TOOK A CAB

51D enjoy the theater SEE A SHOW

76D in _____ (stunned) ...A DAZE

92D get more soap suds out of RE-RINSE

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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7A kind of jacket FLAK (german, FLugAbwehrKanone : aircraft defence cannon)

33A longtime bob hope broadcaster N.B.C. (national broadcasting company)

39A place to gamble in n.y.c. O.T.B. (public off-track betting parlors!)

41A job ad abbr. E.O.E. (equal opportunity employer)

55A u.k. record label E.M.I.

64A took too many pills, briefly O.D.ED (over-dosed)

67A fall mos. OCTS. (octobers)

80A stat for warren spahn: abbr. E.R.A. (earned run average)

93A some colas, familiarly R.C.'S (as in ... royal crown cola)

94A small wts. OZS. (ounces)

95A "well, _-di-dah!" LAH- (finally... my favorite spelling!)

97A u.s.o. show attendees G.I.'S

121A seventh-grader, often 'TWEEN (or 'tweener'... as in... between babyhood and teenage

years,,, or... between elementary and high school... or... well... everything! they don't quite fit in anywhere! [go ahead, ask one!])

122A many, many mos. YRS. (mos : month... yrs : years)

1D group with a secy. gen. N.A.T.O. (north atlantic treaty organization)

48D _____ epstein, red sox g.m. starting in 2002 THEO

59D currency exchange abbr. U.S.D. (united states dollars)

65D 3.5, e.g.: abbr. G.P.A. (grade point average)

74D where to get a mil. commission O.C.S. (officer candidate school)

79D illustrator for charles dickens PHIZ

86D supposed makers of crop circles E.T.'S (extra terrestrials)

88D suffix with buck -A-ROO

104D dr. j was one -SIXER (julius winfield erving II is a former american basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim. he played his nba career with the philadelphia '76ers)

111D they're not good for qb's INT.'S (interceptions)

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too much to do today!

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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. "come on ... be good, kids" 7. kind of jacket 11. actor gulager14. occurs to, with "on"19. emulate earhart20. bean town?21. alley _22. traditional whale hunter23. like some titmice24. went too far26. pretty cool27. mark who won the masters and british open in 199828. the old frontier you and i dont remember? 30. is covered in dew, perhaps32. mahmoud ahmadinejad, e.g.33. longtime bob hope broadcaster 35. _ d'amore37. like some traffic38. donkey kong, for one39. place to gamble in n.y.c. 41. job ad abbr.43. center of success?44. rap's dr. _45. climate that's copy-protected by law? 49. ralph nader and ross perot52. brought on53. sound from a fan54. _ tunes55. u.k. record label 57. richness60. like some grasses61. porridge ingredients63. scratches (out)64. took too many pills, briefly65. merlin on an imax screen? 67. fall mos.71. currency whose symbol is "$"72. like java man73. lose one's marbles78. what to follow in the forest80. stat for warren spahn: abbr.81. pull out formally82. f.b.i, director appointed by clinton83. jimmy of dc comics87. bond poster89. eyelid moistener at a museum?93. some colas, familiarly94. small wts.95. "well, _-di-dah!"96. asian school of thought97. u.s.o. show attendees98. cuddly sci-fi critter100. algonquian tongue101. court call103. twangy105. mover left or right107. rouse a beloved english queen?110. nocturnal insect113. buggy drivers115. in the world116. national airline of afghanistan117. coca-cola trademark118. singer des'_119. 10-year host of "entertainment tonight"120. boasts of121. seventh-grader, often122. many, many mos.123. pamplona shouts124. tangle up (in)1. group with a secy. gen.2. certain gamete3. better half takes the stage?4. christmas on capri5. "s.n.l"alumcheri6. married in error?7. scent maker8. add pep to9. "what _!" ("this place needs cleaning!")10. go-_11. able to be followed12. bath scrubber13. so far14. "goll-lee!"15. many a "star trek" character16. tush made of shuttle thread?17. bit of trail mix18. pork place? 25. grabbed surreptitiously 29. graduation or confirmation 31. following34. not just ask35. florida county seat36. not on deck38. had something40. go "waaaah!"42. got things wrong44. harriet beecher stowe novel46. elite47. didnt walk or go by subway, say48. _ epstein, red sox g.m. starting in 200250. mr. right, with "the"51. enjoy the theater56. word before and after "a"58. prell competitor59. currency exchange abbr.61. painter mondrian62. milk source63. former israeli president weizman65. 3.5, e.g.: abbr.66. actress papas67. viscera68. rodeo locale69. stick one's foot in chardonnay?70. good winter entree73. some toothpastes74. where to get a mil. commission75. development of amnesia?76. in _ (stunned)77. none too bright79. illustrator for charles dickens81. fabric that needs serious mending?84. bequests85. circus props86. supposed makers of crop circles 88. suffix with buck90. bird whose name sounds like its soft call91. tricks92. get more soap suds out of99. angers100. metal that may ignite if scratched 102. try104. dr. j was one105. spinning dizzily106. part ofdkny108. tribal chief109. "the simpsons" bus driver111. they're not good for qb's112. nasty wound113. back114. big mouth

2008-01-12T00:10:00.000-05:00

saturday, january 12, 2008
frederick j. healy / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: a little on the easy side for a saturday, me-thinks...

theme: none

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in the "notes of record" category
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frederick, i was in the zone and cruisin right along at a fast clip, til i rolled into the southeast corner... i hit the brakes hard, swerved into a water-filled ditch, and bloodied my nose but good! it took me twice as long t' figure out nine clues there than the rest of puzzle...

this was well on its way t' bein' scored a two-band-aid job til that darn corner!

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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. energize 10. food fight noise15. "tom jones" beat it for best picture of 196316. singer bryson17. cocky competitors might take them on18. star steeler stautner19. sends off again20. beards21. not do anything about24. basketmaker?28. touristy resort borough se of scranton, pa.32. christmas story bad guy33. record holder34. writer of a five-volume henry james biography35. curling setting36. young 'uns37. much unscripted fare39. high hideaway40. acquisition before becoming a resident41. comparatively close42. fits behind the wheel? 44. 1984 cyndi lauper hit 47. house style52. middle eastern dish53. recording session starter55. stampless i.r.s. submission56. sultana-stuffed treat57. exercise58. showed1. plymouth reliant, for one2. river at rennes3. frames a collector might frame4. "citizen _" (1992 autobiography)5. having turned6. monkey7. historically significant trial8. elementary school trio?9. univ. helpers10. small trunks11. achievement by 30-down that had been previously unattained12. legal scholar guinier13. rose's beau on broadway14. web sites?20. take a bit of one's savings, say22. place of refinement23. state second: abbr.24. col. potter on "m*a*s*h," to pals25. turned over26. mountain nymph27. title sport in a 1975 james caan film29. "laborare est _" ("to work is to pray")30. big name at the 1976 olympics31. 1987 world figure skating champion 33. having spokes 35. leave in difficulty38. acknowledgment on a slip39. sterile41. 1994 u.s. open winner43. sharp44. shoot out45. record holder46. designer saab48. view from catania49. hands are under one: abbr.50. steinbeck figure51. title53. many workers look forward to it: abbr.54. golfer woosnam

2008-01-11T12:52:00.000-05:00

friday, january 11, 2008
mike nothnagel / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: this one is certified friday-tough.

theme: none

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in the "notes of record" category
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as expected, mike, this was a bit of a brawl, but a good one. lotsa non-trad consonants... three-word answers... a real gem!

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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. kind of year 6. fed up with 13. it can be scary to go under this 14. key 16. how some ashes are scattered 17. gq figure 18. detente 19. dried out 20. sound of contempt 21. indication of feigned fright 22. they act on impulses 24. like smooth-running engines 26. black birds 27. airport uniform abbr. 30. mathematician famous for his incompleteness theorems 31. pasta choice 32. one guarded in a soccer game 33. what you take when you do the right thing 36. co-worker of dilbert 37. start of the boy scout oath 38. innovative chair designer 39. innovative 40. natural fluid containers 41. backyard jul. 4 event 42. decision time 44. fill-in 46. "bummer" 49. shortened word on a yellow street sign 50. it follows shevat 51. "win some, lose some" 53. historic capital of scotland 54. concerning 55. "outta sight!" 56. "outta sight!" 57. _ landing (philadelphia area) 1. pass superficially (over) 2. free 3. ditsy waitress player on "mad about you" 4. rough estimate 5. "guilty," in a latin legal phrase 6. exchange of thoughts? 7. burn up 8. name of 11 ancient kings 9. some collars 10. "white flag" singer, 2003 11. recovered from 12. believed 14. sign 15. transition to a heliocentric model of the universe, e.g. 19. late rocker barrett 22. auction 23. draft 25. nut cracker, perhaps 27. negative sign 28. requirement 29. they make connections 30. fed 31. sunburn preventer 32. really take off 34. winter coat? 35. moon unit? 40. minds 41. drive nuts 42. some sisters 43. _ cat 45. practices zymurgy 46. toiletry brand introduced in 1977 47. nail-biter's cry 48. loud outburst 50. long 52. moon unit 53. bribe

2008-01-10T14:32:00.000-05:00

thursday, january 10, 2008
elizabeth c. gorski / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: this one was a mental work-out.

theme: as stated at 37A "theme of this puzzle, as hinted at by 17-, 23-, 45- and 59-across" JOHN LE CARRE BOOK

17A TINKER,
23A TAILOR,
45A SOLDIER,
59A SPY

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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. country store? 6. wrench (from) 10.jeanne _ 14. father, son and holy ghost 15. feminine suffix 16. even, to yves 17. constructing things 19. don't 20. couples cruise vessel? 21. 50s two-seaters 23. custom 25. some flames 30. piccadilly circus statue 31. annoyance, in british slang 32. streamlined 34. cheer start 37. theme of this puzzle, as hinted at by 17-, 23-, 45- and 59-across 40. hard-rock filler 41. sikorsky and stravinsky 42. citizen of shiraz 43. hosiery hue 44. stripped 45. 1962 #1 hit by the shirelles 51. stands ready for 52. it's made up of columns 58. part of a camp schedule 59. means of remote monitoring 61. hang _ 62. "... _ saw elba" 63. slanted 64. org. 65. nature 66. with 46-down, ohio state's _ memorial stadium 1. mailing label abbr. 2. string _ 3. director wertmuller 4. old cross 5. dates 6. prefix with fluoride 7. edible mushroom 8. in whatever quantity 9. museum specialist 10. ranch wear 11. outdoor market 12. corp. budget item 13. like some calls 18. snitch 22. burglarized 24. oglers1 looks 25. californian's vacation destination, maybe 26. sources of hurt feelings 27. turkish title 28. spigot site 29. lobby 32. rub, rub, rub 33. choreographer lubovitch 34. get into some hot water? 35. actress skye 36. start of many an accident 38. departures 39. burlesque show wear 43. subject of a 1940 biopic starring spencer tracy 45. it was split into two parts by the 1899 treaty of berlin 46. see 66-across 47. stays 48. charles _, "gaslight" star, 1944 49. footnote abbr. 50. house call? 53. key of pachelbel's canon: abbr. 54. townshend of the who 55. actress meyers and others 56. square dance partners 57. city near padua 60. anti anti

2008-01-08T22:56:00.000-05:00

wednesday, january 09, 2008
john farmer / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor:

theme: the spelling of each of the days of the week (in order from top to bottom) are abbreviated in a row-set of across circles...

18 SUN
23 MON
32 TUE
36 WED
45 THU
55 FRI
59 SAT

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in the "notes of record" category
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john, i enjoyed the puzzle... i just wonder... was it "wednesday" enough?!

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in the "most googled" category
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45A people of burundi THE HUTU... and... 48. language family that includes finnish and hungarian URALIC

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15A "you know ... it's ... urn ... like this ..." I MEAN...

18A blindly SIGHT UNSEEN

23A have as a focus of one's studies MAJOR IN

32A weekly founded by walter annenberg TV GUIDE (walter hubert annenberg was an american billionaire publisher, philanthropist, and diplomat. against the odds and his financial advisors warnings he founded tv guide in 1952.)

35A "would _____ to you?" (1985 eurythmics hit) ...I LIE... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl1UvbGkQAs)

36A club choice WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

45A people of burundi THE HUTU

54A customized TO ORDER

59A expose, with "on" SHINE A LIGHT

70A boston five CELTS (the celtics, pro basketball team)

4D "_____ a putty tat" (friz freleng short) I TAW... (see the entire merry melodies' tweety bird and sylvester cartoon at: http://www.jibjab.com/player/main.swf?jid=109699)

37D jolly laugh HO HO

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68A pittsburgh-to-boston dir. E.N.E. (east north-east)

10D blair, brown and others, in brief P.M.'S (prime minister's)

19D runnin' rebels of the n.c.a.a. U.N.L.V. (university of nevada at las vegas)

21D squares and cubes, e.g.: abbr. NOS. (numbers)

25D. one of the low countries: abbr. NETH. (netherlands)

34D half a mo SEC.

60D med. insurance choice H.M.O. (health maintenance organization)

61D slip in a pot I.O.U. (as in... a poker pot... "i owe you")

64D 1940s presidential inits. H.S.T. (harry s. truman)

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4A _____ lama DALAI

9A paintball sound SPLAT
16A watchmaker since 1848 OMEGA
55A import with a "cavallino rampante" logo FERRARI
3D actress rebecca of "ugly betty" ROMIJN
9D "in america" novelist susan SONTAG
11D winner at the second battle of bull run LEE (yep, robert e. lee)

27D naturalist who appears on the california quarter MUIR (john muir, founder of the sierra club, was one of the first modern preservationists. his voluminous letters, essays, and books tell of his adventures in nature, and wildlife, especially in the sierra nevada mountains of california. his direct activism and philosophy strongly influenced the formation of the modern environmental movement)
29D 1998 sarah mclachlan hit ADIA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y45mX79GhSw)

36D skater katarina WITT
38D sub in a tub OLEO (substitute [for butter] : oleo... in a plastic [pint/quart] 'tub')

39D bert who sang "if i only had the nerve" LAHR
53D actress laura LINNEY
57D part of a makeshift swing TIRE
63D baseball's hodges GIL

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45A people of burundi THE HUTU

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36A club choice WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

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. vacation rental 4. _ lama 9. paintball sound 14. boo follower 15. "you know ... it's ... urn ... like this ..." 16. watchmaker since 1848 17. extension 18. blindly 20. possible cause of a swelling 22. filmmaker gus van _ 23. have as a focus of one's studies 26. place for steamers 31. feeling 32. weekly founded by walter annenberg 33. cool guys 35. "would _ to you?" (1985 eurythmics hit) 36. club choice 43. neighbor on the 1980s sitcom "mama's family" 44. footprint or loose thread, perhaps 45. people of burundi 49. all accounted for 54. customized 55. import with a "cavallino rampante" logo 56. "phooey!" 58. sen. hatch 59. expose, with "on" 65. totaled 66. intrigue 67. from cork, e.g. 68. pittsburgh-to-boston dir. 69. wry faces 70. boston five 71. what each set of circled letters spells 1. challenges for daredevil motorcyclists 2. blood lines 3. actress rebecca of "ugly betty" 4. ignominy 5. friend of frangois 6. part of a relay 7. relief reactions 8. unbroken 9. "in america" novelist susan 10. blair, brown and others, in brief 11. winner at the second battle of bull run 12. bronze _ 13. bronze 19. runnin' rebels of the n.c.a.a. 21. squares and cubes, e.g.: abbr. 24. "_ a putty tat" (friz freleng short) 25. one of the low countries: abbr. 27. naturalist who appears on the california quarter 28. vitriol 29. 1998 sarah mclachlan hit 30. bit for a basket weaver 34. haifa mo 36. skater katarina 37. jolly laugh 38. sub in a tub 39. bert who sang "if i only had the nerve" 40. a first for arabia? 41. some people have trouble carrying one 42. gets engaged to, old-style 46. milk dispensers 47. trillion: prefix 48. language family that includes finnish and hungarian 50. hockey's bobby 51. blackened 52. sister of albus dumbledore, in the harry potter books 53. actress laura 57. part of a makeshift swing 59. softhead 60. med. insurance choice 61. slip in a pot 62. loon 63. baseball's hodges 64. 1940s presidential inits.

2008-01-08T14:55:00.000-05:00

tuesday, january 08, 2008
malia jackson and noah snyder / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: not much at all; this was a fun romp

theme: this puzzle was other-worldly... at 52A i know i saw a...

FLYING SAUCER

but jackson and snyder explained it away as being only...

a 20A METEOR SHOWER,
a 28A WEATHER BALLOON, or
a 46A CLOUD FORMATION!

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malia and noah, this was a very wonderful puzzle.

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yet again, the crosses took care of each other t'day

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36A z's SHUT-EYE

44A "i _____ amused!" ...AM NOT...

4D "hello" sticker NAME TAG

39D _____ hole in (corrodes) EATS A...

53D "if _____ be so bold..." ...I MAY...

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5A john candy's old comedy show S.C.TV (second city television)

34A quito's land: abbr. ECUA. (ecuador)

35A co. that owns parlophone records E.M.I. (electric and musical industries group, ltd. is involved in both the manufacture of recording and playback equipment and the provision of music to play on its machines. its emi music division is one of the "big four" record companies in the world)

41A many want-ad offerings: abbr. APTS. (apartments)

51A n.r.a. part: abbr. ASSN. (national rifle... association)

63A dont exist AREN'T (are not)

1D minuteman, e.g.: abbr. I.C.B.M. (inter-continental ballistic missiles)

11D corp. v.i.p. C.E.O. (chief executive officer)

12D turner field locale: abbr. ATL. (atlanta)

13D see 25-down MTS. (mountains)

38D grp. helping those on shore leave U.S.O. (united service organizations, inc.)
59D roth _____ I.R.A. (individual retirement account)

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9A william of _____, known for his "razor" OCCAM (franciscan friar william of ockham an english scholastic philosopher and logician in the early to mid 1300's, in order to reduce unfounded, grandizing speculation, especially with respect to scientific theories, expressed a principle that when stated in latin is the "lex parsimoniae" ["law of parsimony" or "law of succinctness"]: "entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem", or "entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity." known now as "occam's [ockham's] razor" his belief that the explanation of any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible, eliminating all that make no difference in the observable predictions of any hypothesis or theory, is most often paraphrased as "all other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best."

14A bay of pigs locale CUBA (the 1961 bay of pigs invasion was an unsuccessful attempted invasion by armed cuban exiles in southwest Cuba, planned and funded by the united states, in an attempt to overthrow the repressive government of fidel castro)
15A rock's motley _____ CRUE
16A he didnt give a damn RHETT
23A sonora snack TACO
32A first secretary of homeland security RIDGE (thomas joseph "tom" ridge served as a member of the u.s. house of representatives, was governor of pennsylvania, and assistant to the president for homeland security before his short stint as the first u.s. secretary of homeland hecurity from 2003 to 2005)
33A _____ lingus AER (the official airlines of the republic of ireland. based at dublin airport, it operates 41 airbus aircraft serving almost 9 million passengers in europe, africa, north america and the middle east. its motto is "enjoy your flight")
61A "scarface" star, 1932 MUNI (paul muni, born muni weisenfreund to a family of polish jewish actors, was an american stage and film actor acclaimed for his portrayals of noted historical figures)
64A sidewalk stand drinks ADES
66A sheriff's symbol BADGE
67A abominable snowman YETI
6D defoe castaway CRUSOE
9D big brother's creator ORWELL
21D hall's singing partner OATES (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4HO81xGvc0&feature=related)

28D part of a nun's habit WIMPLE (often highly starched headdress worn over the head and around the neck, cheeks, and chin)

48D refrigerator adornment MAGNET

56D poet pound EZRA (ezra weston loomis pound was an american expatriate poet, critic and intellectual who was a major figure of the modernist movement in early-to-mid 1900's poetry)

58D it may have a medallion CAB

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least favorite answer: 50A "super!" TERRIF

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. desktop folder, e.g. 5. john candy's old comedy show 9. william of _, known for his "razor" 14. bay of pigs locale 15. rock's motley _ 16. he didnt give a damn 17. fedora feature 18. boot from office 19. angora and merino 20. what you really saw? 23. sonora snack 24. pass by 28. what you really saw? 32. first secretary of homeland security 33. _ lingus 34. quito's land: abbr. 35. co. that owns parlophone records 36. z's 40. tolkien humanoid 41. many want-ad offerings: abbr. 43. play for a sap 44. "i _ amused!" 46. what you really saw? 50. "super!" 51. n.r.a. part: abbr. 52. what you thought you saw 58. tiny hairs 61. "scarface" star, 1932 62. economy-_ 63. dont exist 64. sidewalk stand drinks 65. raison d' _ 66. sheriff's symbol 67. abominable snowman 68. circus barker 1. minuteman, e.g.: abbr. 2. make perfect again 3. end piece? 4. "hello" sticker 5. burn with an iron 6. defoe castaway 7. keister 8. challenge to congress 9. big brother's creator 10. bach work 11. corp. v.i.p. 12. turner field locale: abbr. 13. see 25-down 21. hall's singing partner 22. pooped 25. with 13-down, pa. range 26. grow sick of 27. make into law 28. part of a nun's habit 29. blue-pencil wielder 30. judge of sex and violence in films 31. swarm member 32. flinch, say 37. peeved and showing it 38. grp. helping those on shore leave 39. _ hole in (corrodes) 42. web recreation 45. grade lowerers 47. get wider 48. refrigerator adornment 49. st. francis's home 53. "if _ be so bold..." 54. pantyhose shade 55. summon to court 56. poet pound 57. fiddler's tune 58. it may have a medallion 59. roth _ 60. had charge of

2008-01-06T23:07:00.000-05:00

monday, january 07, 2008
lynn lempel / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: a very nice breezy monday puzzle

theme: things that really rattle my nerves

46A BANG
17A POP
7D BOOM
10D CRASH
35D CRACK
40D CLAP

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okay, lynn, let's get it all 30A "tallied up" here... five mondays in 11 or 12 weeks... yesterday your first sunday... and today your first bac-to-back... [doing a very poor regis philbin] "whoa! you're outta control!"

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google schmoogle... the crosses take care of themselves, t'day!

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15A symbol of sturdiness OAK TREE

17A high hit behind the catcher, say POP FOUL

22A "my life _____ open book" ...IS AN...

28A refused SAID, "NO!"

38A nuptial agreement I DO.

41A tidy savings NEST EGG

62A miss terribly ACHE FOR

64A theory of the universe, or a hint to the starts of 17-across and 7-, 10-, 35- and 40-down BIG BANG

68A observed secretly SPIED ON

3D shred RIP UP

7D prosperous place BOOM TOWN

10D extreme effort at weight loss CRASH DIET

35D skilled marksman CRACK SHOT

40D baloney CLAP TRAP

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7A "see ya" 'BYE

10A katie couric's network C.B.S.
19A end of a school web address .EDU

43A miss, neighbor ALA. (alabama)

69A summer hrs. in d.c. E.D.T. (eastern daylight time)

70A one doing leg. work REP.

1D post or trib PAPER (as in... the newspaper... this is what paimter sir william russell flint calls "the newspaper"...)

5D old auto inits. R.E.O. (REO are the initials of the company's founder, Ransom E. Olds, also the founder of the Oldsmobile)

37D aviation-related prefix AERO-

63D lead-in to fetched or sighted FAR-

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1A peeling knives PARERS

36A graceful swimmer SWAN
46A paths from here to there ROUTES
52A vegetable that rolls PEA
59A thorny parts of roses STEMS
11D alpha, _____, gamma ... BETA
14D twisty-horned antelope ELAND
16D musical chord TRIAD
21D eye part LENS... and... 29D eye part IRIS
24D "como _____ usted?" ESTA (spanish, "how are you?")

32D lady and the tramp, e.g. DOGS (walt disney's 1955 offering, "lady and the tramp" was the first all-cartoon feature filmed in cinamascope!)
50D symbols of meekness LAMBS
66D spelling competition BEE

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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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. peeling knives 7. "see ya" 10. katie couric's network 13. kansas city where dwight elsenhower grew up 15. symbol of sturdiness 17. high hit behind the catcher, say 18. do surgery (on) 19. end of a school web address 20. salves 22. "my life _ open book" 23. ward off 26. safety item for a tightrope walker 27. pep rally shout 28. refused 30. tallied up 33. neurologist or orthopedist 36. graceful swimmer 38. nuptial agreement 39. spotty 41. tidy savings 43. miss, neighbor 44. _ of man 46. paths from here to there 47. stretchy fabric 49. self-assurance 51. family 52. vegetable that rolls 53. looks to be 57. treble's counterpart 59. thorny parts of roses 61. III + IV 62. miss terribly 64. theory of the universe, or a hint to the starts of 17-across and 7-, 10-, 35- and 40-down 67. scene at a natural history museum 68. observed secretly 69. summer hrs. in d.c. 70. one doing leg. work 71. derisive looks 1. post or trib 2. residence 3. shred 4. aide to santa 5. old auto inits. 6. rebuff 7. prosperous place 8. kennel cries 9. _ out (barely make) 10. extreme effort at weight loss 11. alpha, _, gamma ... 12. glimpsed 14. twisty-horned antelope 16. musical chord 21. eye part 24. "como _ usted?" 25. vientiane native 27. abductors' demands 29. eye part 31. periphery 32. lady and the tramp, e.g. 33. start a card game 34. air france destination 35. skilled marksman 37. aviation-related prefix 40. baloney 42. inside of a paper towel roll 45. sporting sword 48. one heeding the alarm clock 50. symbols of meekness 54. dodge 55. petty 56. + and - 57. ordered 58. carbolic _ 59. a few 60. nurses a drink 63. lead-in to fetched or sighted 65. card game with knocking 66. spelling competition

2008-01-06T20:49:00.000-05:00

SUNDAY, january 06, 2008
lynn lempel / will shortz
the inside dope
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: i haven't had atwo band-aid sunday in years!

theme/title: well, the title "the inside dope" was misleading, so instead of looking for off-color drug references, we were sent off to find names to call someone...

23A OAF
29A ASS
37A DODO
3D CHUMP
60A MORON
76A CLOD
46D DUNCE
98A DINGBAT
109A LOUT
117A SAP

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in the "notes of record" category
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time jus' slipped away with other thangs 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. kind of court 6. decorative inlay material 11. screening 15. took off 19. shooter's target 20. facility 21. what pi may be used to find 22. much family history, e.g. 23. *feature of some kids' cereals 25. shelter supplies 26. feeling 27. rita hayworth title role of 1946 28. monarch's bane 29. *regular provider 31. bollix up 32. interior look 34. aniselike herbs 35. "_ dreaming?" 37. *holder of the world record for the longest ovation on the operatic stage (80 minutes) 41. w.w. II noncombatants 43. spirit 44. eremites 45. "the guns of august" figure 49. weekend warrior's woe 50. grauman of grauman's chinese theater 51. swift gift 52. reagan attorney general 53. where you can feel the heat 55. part of a tennis racket 57. accusatory words 59. h look-alike 60. *let the mind believe what it likes 64. parter of the waters 65. soyuz destination 66. governessy 67. covers up 70. behind 72. room sharer, often 74. group west of the atlantic: abbr. 76. *bastion of brotherhood 80. uniters with 51-down 81. hug and kiss, to a brit 83. cracker topper 84. bird baked in a pie 85. 1920s anarchist in a celebrated trial 87. some cottons 91. tennis's shriver 93. kierkegaard's "the sickness _ death" 94. "my way" lyricist 95. mexican revolutionary _ hidalgo 96. brush makeup 97. earth day subj. 98. *elementary school test package 102. slice of history 103. approaches aggressively 106. portrait photographer arbus 107. ralph _, 1974 n.l batting champ 109. *dress for the return of cool weather 111. indeed 113. overdo it, in a way 115. requirement for some degree candidates 116. _ avis 117. *not even close 120. dungeons & dragons figure 121. list ender 122. ones being shot at 123. heinrich who wrote "atta troll" 124. moneybags in "the wind in the willows" 125. comfy retreats 126. unpadded 127. synthetic fabric 1. grp. influential in campaigns 2. wide-eyed 3. *alaskan cruise sighting 4. midway, e.g. 5. preliminary events 6. cowboys' org. 7. bean who was the fourth man to walk on the moon 8. gave up at last 9. ran amok 10. add instead of subtract, e.g. 11. some tubes 12. lover boy? 13. lights 14. speeds up 15. it's sour 16. disney duck 17. documentary filmmaker morris 18. gets off the bottle 24. title on a child's bookshelf 29. object of a vain wait 30. lee who directed "brokeback mountain" 33. pay increase to keep up with inflation, in brief 35. up to one's ears 36. former portuguese colony in china 38. put right 39. core groups 40. piddling 42. title with a tilde 46. *wasn't clear, as one's future 47. where monferrato wine comes from 48. behind 51. uniters with 80-across 52. finds at pompeii 54. songlike 56. suffix with sheep or goat 58. soapstone, e.g. 61. mideast's gulf of _ 62. mauna _ 63. firecracker parts 68. cabinet inits. since 1947 69. show annoyance with 71. chefs hat 72. sportsman of the year co-winner of 1998 73. _ the great 75. like some electronics 77. politician's projection 78. seminole's archrival 79. virulent virus 82. 1945 colette novel 86. spread some holiday joy 88. ouaint garden fixtures 89. o.k. 90. where napoleon planned his hundred days campaign 92. welds 95. reached the due date 96. helmsman 99. that: sp. 100. "do i have a volunteer?" 101. company whose production goes in cycles? 103. going on 104. load of ships? 105. santa _, calif. 108. rodeo competitor 110. "the nanny" actress drescher 112. poor returns? 114. island-dotted lake of northern ireland 117. not fair 118. food additive 119. _ aviv

2008-01-04T23:49:00.000-05:00

saturday, january 05, 2008
paula gamache / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: after my initial "saturday tentative posturing", i fell into the zone and crushed this one!

theme: none

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in the "notes of record" category
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paula, i know people aren't ordinarily supposed t' talk like this about a saturday puzzle, but i liked this puzzle a lot... (oh, and i have nary a bitch at all, except for the use of one word... sonofabitch, i can't remember which one it was now... ain't that a bitch?!)

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in the "most googled" category
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my guess for the top three is leanin' toward...

1. 18A ____-de-four (hemisphere-shaped vault) CUL...

2. 28D where fredo corleone gets shot LAKE TAHOE... and...

3. 1A saucily titled best-selling diet book SKINNY BITCH

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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15A it's featured in "a night at the opera" IL TROVATORE (the performance of (verdi's il tovadore [the troubadour] is trashed by classic marx brothers antics!)
17A target of a school bully TEACHER'S PET

21A internet site graphics WEB ART

32A t preceder TO A...

42A ben jonson poem TO CELIA

43A n.f.l salary limit HARD CAP

51A they really ought to be kicked NASTY HABITS

55A sign of stress? ACUTE ACCENT (ah, that diacritical mark [primarily over a vowel, but consonants 'n' and 'w' may also be marked] in some non-english languages: á, é, í, ó, ú, ý... as opposed the accent grave [grAHv] which serves a different language pronunciation purpose and slants in the other direction: è, ì, ù)

57A is a hero SAVES THE DAY

5D cry from a daredevil cyclist "NO HANDS!"

10D private dos? CREW CUTS

12D yosemite valley peak EL CAPITAN
13D dumped POURED OUT
14D harms ILL-TREATS

29D passive-aggressive and the like OXY-MORON

30D common desiccant SILICA GEL

38D apiece FOR EACH

41D light into LASH AT

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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12A center starter? EPI- (a prefix meaning "on, upon, over, above, around, close to, beside" or, in some cases "after")

16A tickled user's response L.O.L. (laughing out loud!)

18A _-de-four (hemisphere-shaped vault) CUL-

19A 3,280.84 ft. KIL. (kilometre)

20A suspect's request: abbr. ATTY. (attorney)

26A fig. on a 1970's dollar D.D.E. (dwight david eisenhower)

56A an alien may take it: abbr. E.S.L. (english [as a] second language)

4D reactor overseer: abbr. N.R.C. (nuclear regulatory commission)
40D no yankee fan REB (rebel... think... the u.s. civil war)

48D suffix with super -ETTE (meaning "small")

52D explorer, e.g. S.U.V. (as in... ford motor company's high-end sports utility vehicle)

53D dating letters B.C.E. ("before common era" or "before Christian era")

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in the "other" category
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25A ice remover SCRAPER

27A enamel strengthener FLUORIDE (as in... tooth enamel; the hard outer layer)

31A slip fillers BOATS (docks are the land masses and attachments... slips are the sections off the dock at the water mass)
35A chateau _-brion (bordeaux wine) HAUT
41A john of lancaster LOO (john : toilet... lancaster os a british city... british toilet: loo!)

47A like 1, but not I ARABIC (most of the world today uses arabic numerals, and a form of latin [or roman] alphabetic letter characters)

22D manhattan's place BAR (as in... the rye whiskey, vermouth, and bitters drink!)

24D every month has one IDES (we all kinda knew it is the fifteeth day of march, but it is also the fifteenth day of may, july, or october... and the thirteenth day of the other months!)

25D ticket SLATE (as in election mates)

27D babes FOXES (yeah... but... back when?!)

37D steinbeck's birthplace SALINAS

43D governor who helped found ohio state university HAYES (as in... future-president rutherford b.)

45D unitedhealth rival AETNA

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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"bitch" it's a slippery slope... how far is it to... ???

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. saucily titled best-selling diet book 12. center starter? 15. it's featured in "a night at the opera" 16. tickled user's response 17. target of a school bully 18. _-de-four (hemisphere-shaped vault) 19. 3,280.84 ft. 20. suspect's request: abbr. 21. internet site graphics 23. chooses by divine election 25. ice remover 26. fig. on a 1970s dollar 27. enamel strengthener 28. has confiscated 31. slip fillers 32. t preceder 33. alliance 34. college bookstore stock 35. chateau _-brion (bordeaux wine) 36. arizona senator jon 37. yes or no follower 38. abundant sources 39. lands in the persian gulf 41. john of lancaster 42. ben jonson poem 43. n.f.l salary limit 47. like 1, but not I 48. rest 49. peggy of "the dukes of hazzard" 50. not be generous with 51. they really ought to be kicked 54. next to nothing? 55. sign of stress? 56. an alien may take it: abbr. 57. is a hero 1. university of alaska southeast campus site 2. anne of fashion 3. _ disco (european dance music) 4. reactor overseer: abbr. 5. cry from a daredevil cyclist 6. 1884 short story by guy de maupassant 7. st. _ (caribbean island, familiarly) 8. wee, to a wee 'un 9. foremost 10. private dos? 11. they're straight 12. yosemite valley peak 13. dumped 14. harms 22. manhattan's place 24. every month has one 25. ticket 27. babes 28. where fredo corleone gets shot 29. passive-aggressive and the like 30. common desiccant 31. kentucky college 34. body found high in the andes 35. where to hang, in slang 37. steinbeck's birthplace 38. apiece 40. no yankee fan 41. light into 43. governor who helped found ohio state university 44. called out 45. unitedhealth rival 46. like plaster 48. suffix with super 52. explorer, e.g. 53. dating letters

2008-01-04T07:55:00.000-05:00

friday, january 04, 2008
raymond c. young / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: %*&# i picked a helluva day t' give all my band-aids away t' the needy... why thar's words in thar ain't no educated man'd e'er speak! i had fleeting thoughts of suicide during parts of this... as a much gentler solution! this wore me out!

theme: none

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in the "notes of record" category
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well, raymond, ya did it! i was so beat up over this it ruined my day... it sapped me... it made me feel like crap all day long! now, i've been known t' cuss such that a stevedore might blush, but i'm utterly speechless... and spent!

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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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45A strength of a chemical solution TITER (titration is a method of determining the unknown concentration of a substance in solution, by adding to it a standard reagent of known concentration in carefully measured amounts until a reaction of definite and known proportion is completed, as shown by a color change [or by electrical measurement] and then calculating the unknown concentration. the titer is the unknown concentration of the substance in solution [or the strength of such a substance] as determined by titration and calculation)

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. like the reading on a thermometer 7. molly who wrote "bushwhacked" 12. facility 15. camp sight 16. relations of homer? 18. _ river 19. service for filmgoers 20. "i almost forgot ...i" 21. unwavering 22. candlemas dessert 23. private 25. "in a hurry, are we?" 28. puts down, in a way 29. forensic indicators of the presence of blood 30. makes a fraidy-cat (out of) 32. cause 33. put two and two together 34. modern marketing aid 40. deborah who starred in "tea and sympathy" 41. decorate 42. give praise 44. observatory doings 45. strength of a chemical solution 46. parts of mountaineering trips 47. grippers 48. having the most social anxiety 1. could be 2. horse of the year that won the 1949 preakness and belmont 3. "_ said many times ..." 4. soprano albanese 5. put in to start 6. plant on after a wildfire, say 7. post-o.r. post 8. producing some clouds 9. fit 10. ones without a chance in the world 11. "now listen!" 13. london locale of prada, dior, gucci and giorgio armani 14. wits 17. gets ready for dinner 22. _ de fraise 24. olivia de havilland film of 1949 25. pilferers from ships and port warehouses 26. alabaman who wrote the best novel of the century, according to a 1999 library journal poll 27. foreign title meaning "commander" 28. part of act iv where marc antony resolves to kill cleopatra 30. "the first network for men" sloganeer, once 31. overplayed? 35. claudia _, 1984 olympic gold medalist in shot put 36. tigres del _, dominican team that has won the caribbean world series nine times 37. "what have _?" 38. fall times: abbr. 39. meet away from prying eyes 43. _-80 (classic computer)

2008-01-03T13:48:00.000-05:00

thursday, january 03, 2008
henry hook / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: well, i was a bit outta sorts, and wrong-guessin' all over the place... but don't feel sorry for me, almost all the wounds were self-caused

theme: is found at 56A "what 16- and 37-across and 11- and 24-down were all known to do" CARRY UMBRELLAS

16A MORTON SALT GIRL
37A PENGUIN
11D MARY POPPINS
24D CHAMBERLAIN

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in the "notes of record" category
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henry, am i wrong to've pegged this as more of a 'friday' puzzle?! regardless, it was chock full o' great clues and answers!

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in the "most googled" category
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59D seven-faced doctor of film LAO

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in the "cool multiple word answer" category
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16A ad icon since 1914 MORTON SALT GIRL (morton salt's distinctive hand-drawn logo, developed in 1914, features the "morton salt girl," a young girl walking in the rain with an opened umbrella, and scattering salt behind her from a cylindrical container of table salt is accompanied by the logo "when it rains, it pours". they were developed to illustrate the point that morton salt was free flowing, even in damp weather, as clumping was quite common prior to that. note: originally, the company had added magnesium carbonate as an absorbing agent to ensure that its table salt was free flowing; calcium silicate is now used instead for the same purpose)

34A it could easily go up FIRE TRAP

41A prig BLUE NOSE

46A bach's "partita no. 6 _ minor" ...IN E...

56A what 16- and 37-across and 11- and 24-down were all known to do CARRY UMBRELLAS

4D place to pick up a puppy PET SHOP

11D caretaker for the banks household MARY POPPINS

31D do something else with RE-USE

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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33A "hurry!" A.S.A.P. (as soon as possible)

9D bol. neighbor ARG. (bolivia... argentina [argentine republic])

27D fraternity chapter ETA (sigma tau alpha)

44D literary monogram G.B.S. (george bernard shaw)

54D opening day? X-MAS

57D genetics abbr. R.N.A. (ribo-nucleic acid)

58D _ u.s. pat. off. REG. (registered [with the] united states patent office)

61D rr bldg. STA. (railroad... station)

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in the "further elaboration" category
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20A tree sacred to druids YEW ('the druid way' is an accounting of a journey of rediscovery that begins with a gateway [a transition place between outer and inner, death and birth] formed by a beech and yew tree. the yew is the tree of death and rebirth [or eternal life] to the irish druids; the beech tree symbolizes tradition, learning, wisdom, and ancient knowledge. note: on mainline britain, the oak tree - not the yew - was the central tree of druidry)

22A regular at kelsey's bar, on tv ARCHIE

25A crow's nest? TEEPEE (as in... crow indian)

37A oswald cobblepot's nom de crime PENGUIN (introduced in december of 1941, oswald chesterfield cobblepot, aka the penguin, is a dc comics supervillain and is the second of batman's archenemies after the joker. he was born with a short, wobbly body and a bird like nose that made him an outcast in his rich, debutante family. their rejection drove him to become a violent, cold-hearted criminal with his own self-proclaimed high society class and style. unlike most of the "rogues gallery" of batman foes, the penguin is in control of his own actions and perfectly sane, creating a unique relationship with his arch enemy. his trademarks are the various deadly umbrellas he uses to execute his evil plans.

38A boxer's hand PAW (as in... 'south paw'... for 'left-handed')

44A "the female eunuch" author GREER (the book's main thesis is that the traditional, suburban, consumerist, nuclear family represses women sexually, and that this devitalizes them, rendering them eunuchs)

47A cezanne colleague MONET (paul cezanne and claude monet self-portraits...)

51A _ paradise, protagonist of "on the road" SAL (sal paradise is the narrator and the protagonist in jack kerouac's semi-autobiographical novel 'on the road', who follows and accompanies a friend-of-a-friend, dean moriarty, on his vagrant journeys across late 1950's america in search of kicks)

64A big _____ conference EAST

67A first batter to hit a home run against every major league baseball team SOSA (interesting stat!)

6D arno city PISA

7D ignore the lyrics? SCAT (listen to scat-master crooner mel torme doin' "sweet georgia brown" and "just in time" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odlEDzByoNQ&feature=related)

10D ring around the collar? LEI

2D ill will SPLEEN (as in... 'vent one's spleen')

17D allegheny + monongahela OHIO (as in... the rivers... the former two merge to become the latter near pittsburg, pennsylvania)

18D famous nine-year-old king TUT

23D tabula description RASA (tabula rasa [latin: 'scraped tablet' or 'clean slate'] refers to the thesis that individual human beings are born with no innate mental content, in a word, "blank", and that their entire resource of knowledge is built up gradually from their experiences and sensory perceptions of the outside world. those who subscribe to the tabula rasa thesis favor the "nurture" side of the nature versus nurture debate, when it comes to aspects of one's personality, social and emotional behavior, and intelligence)

24D churchill predecessor CHAMBERLAIN

29D bottled spirit JINNI ('genie' is the english term for the arabic jinnie [jinni, djinni, or djini] which was thought to be a favor-granting supernatural spirit in arabian folklore)

39D out of harm's way ALEE (on the sea, meaning toward, or in the direction in which the wind is blowing)

49D passing obstruction? NAY (as in... a vote)

50D silver, for one HORSE

53D art class figure NUDE

55D everglades denizen IBIS (not 'croc', dammit!)

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in the "damn-brand-new-t'-me" category
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47D grimace MOUE (pout)

13A pleasure seeker ROUE (french, [roo-AY] a man in fashionable society who is lacking in moral restraint; whimsically indulging in sensual pleasures or vices)

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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most favorite clueS/answerS: 63A "roast setting" DAIS... and... 1D and 42D "half a huge cost?" ARM ...and... LEG

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. having surmounted 5. semicircular room 9. poor box contents 13. pleasure seeker 14. respectable 15. obtain 16. ad icon since 1914 19. acupressure technique 20. tree sacred to druids 22. regular at kelsey's bar, on tv 25. crow's nest? 28. rebel yell 29. one may hold the mayo 32. mend 33. "hurry!" 34. it could easily go up 36. candied side dish 37. oswald cobblepot's nom de crime 38. boxer's hand 41. prig 43. backsplash component 44. "the female eunuch" author 46. bach's "partita no. 6 _ minor" 47. cezanne colleague 48. recipient of a 1937 wooden oscar 50. contains 51. _ paradise, protagonist of "on the road" 52. impatient 56. what 16- and 37-across and 11- and 24-down were all known to do 62. antler feature 63. roast setting 64. big _ conference 65. reason to say "now what do we do?" 66. being, to brutus 67. first batter to hit a home run against every major league baseball team 1. haifa huge cost? 2. unduly 3. lord's prayer start 4. place to pick up a puppy 5. musical with the song "easy street" 6. arno city 7. ignore the lyrics? 8. sniggler's take 9. bol. neighbor 10. ring around the collar? 11. caretaker for the banks household 12. ill will 17. allegheny + monongahela 18. famous nine-year-old king 21. itty-bitty 22. vacationing 23. tabula description 24. churchill predecessor 26. have coming 27. fraternity chapter 29. bottled spirit 30. element whose name roughly means "lazy" 31. do something else with 34. charge 35. undo a lead 37. untarnished 39. out of harm's way 40. moistens 42. haifa huge cost? 43. dishevels 44. literary monogram 45. isnt stoic 47. grimace 49. passing obstruction? 50. silver, for one 53. art class figure 54. opening day? 55. everglades denizen 57. genetics abbr. 58. _ u.s. pat. off. 59. seven-faced doctor of film 60. ninny 61. rr bldg.

2008-01-01T23:58:00.000-05:00

wednesday, january 02, 2008
patrick blindauer/ will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: the crosses sure aided each other here!

theme: 20A and 59A "CLARINET RELATIVE" seem to hint at something altogether different than what is highlighted today, but it's knot... ya hafta go a wee bit further... 41A "what to do after completing this puzzle, with four straight lines CONNECT ALL THE "O's"... and then go just a bit further... see the "your mileage may vary" section below...

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in the "notes of record" category
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whew! patrick, the puzzle itself was a fair wednesday challenge, but the theme... wow!

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in the "most googled" category
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this surprised me: 14A southwestern sheepherders HOPIS

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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24A honeymoon suite feature HOT TUB

32A see with 65-down [with 65D] ONE O' CAT

51A ample shoe width E-E-E

61A "yikes!" UH OH

8D alternative if things go wrong PLAN "B"

21D multiple-choice choices A, B, OR C

26D some court attire TENNIS SHOES

34D wrap up by END AT

43D pope after john x LEO VI

57D freshen RE-NEW

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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6A "dragnet" force, in brief L.A.P.D. (los angeles police department)

10A org. for which a d.v.m. might work S.P.C.A. (society for the prevention of cruelty to animals)

19A n.y. neighbor CONN. (connecticut)

23A grp. that conducts many tests F.D.A. (food and drug administration)

30A epigram MOT (a shortening of: "bon mot" (french, "good word[s]")... a clever saying; a witticism)

71A secy. ASST. (assistant)

1D half a dance CHA (as in... cha cha... not can... can can!)

3D new issue on wall st. I.P.O. (initial public offering [of shares of stock])

4D color faintly TINCT

10D order to attack, with "on" SIC (i have always been bothered by not knowing the derivation of this usage for "incite an attack [especially a dog or dogs] by")

12D individually owned apartment CONDO (condominium)

36D 50 degs., maybe LAT. (latitude)

48D _ foods, inc. ORE-IDA (the portmanteau of 'oregon' and 'idaho', a brand of potato-based "heat 'n' eat" frozen foods owned by the h.j. heinz company)

62D post w.w. II pres. H.S.T. (harry s. truman)

66D response to a joke in an i.m. L.O.L. (laughing out loud)

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in the "further elaboration" category
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i'll be back on track t'morrow, folks!

but i am compelled to include a quick shot from 1975's brodadway production of 'chicago'... 1A chita rivera... and 56A gwen verdon...
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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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theme spoiler: one of the clarinet's relatives would be an "oboe"... yet, the highlighted area does not resemble one - not even a little bit at all... hmmm... it looks much more like a strange connective string... or an oddly decorative ribbon of... "o's"... or an "o" bow! yikes! puns... y' either hate 'em... or y' hate 'em more!

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. rivera of the original "chicago" 6. "dragnet" force, in brief 10. org. for which a d.v.m. might work 14. southwestern sheepherders 15. mythical king of the huns 16. press 17. unending pain 18. ayatollah's land 19. n.y. neighbor 20. with 59-across, hint to this puzzle's secret 23. grp. that conducts many tests 24. honeymoon suite feature 27. souvenir from a bad trip? 29. le figaro article 30. epigram 32. see 65-down 33. "come here often?," e.g. 35. chewy candy 38. river to the rhone 41. what to do after completing this puzzle, with four straight lines 44. children's author blyton and others 45. chief whitehorse, e.g. 46. subject of illicit trade 47. japanese leader of the 1960's 49. "the gift of the magi" gift 51. ample shoe width 52. promoted 56. gwen of the original "chicago" 58. berlin cry 59. see 20-across 61. "yikes!" 63. like some hands 64. _ gay (w.w. II plane) 68. some votes 69. cain of "lois & clark" 70. china company 71. secy. 72. dry 73. jim-dandy 1. haifa dance 2. keep all to oneself 3. new issue on wall st. 4. color faintly 5. sanctuary 6. dragon's _ (early video game) 7. central courts 8. alternative if things go wrong 9. bread for burritos? 10. order to attack, with "on" 11. made a killing, say 12. individually owned apartment 13. former u.n. chief kofi 21. multiple-choice choices 22. kind of approval 24. actor tom of "amadeus" 25. bialy flavorer 26. some court attire 28. violinist schneider, informally 31. curtain puller of film 34. wrap up by 36. 50 degs., maybe 37. former swedish p.m. palme 39. beau 40. city north of cologne 42. any acetate, chemically 43. pope after john x 48. _ foods, inc. 50. instruments for drawing angles 52. animals 53. spanish skating figures 54. cain vis-a-vis abel 55. _ lama 57. freshen 60. be inclined 62. post w.w. II pres. 65. with 32-across, a ball game 66. response to a joke in an i.m. 67. rocker _ rose

2008-01-01T14:27:00.000-05:00

tuesday, january 01, 2007
adam g. perl/ will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: the "o" at 14A and 2D was the last letter i guessed/filled... (but i started at the florida corner!)

theme: think 38A FOUR-H...

across the u.s. the 4-H motto/pledge is based on the center four lines:

as a loyal 4-h member, i pledge...

my head to clearer thinking,
my heart to greater loyalty,
my hands to larger service,
my health to better living,

for my family, my club, my community, my country, and my world."

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in the "notes of record" category
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ah, adam, a very gentle way to start the new year... thank you, i needed that!

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in the "most googled" category
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well, if i had t' guess, i'd say the "o" at 14A and 2D is gonna throw a bunch o' folks for a wee bit of a loop... so either 14A "either of two directing brothers" COEN (joel and ethan)... or 2D "transvaal trekker" BOER will be right up there on the google-meter.

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
1. "mamma mia" group 5. play chauffeur 10. money to help one through a tight spot 14. either of two directing brothers 15. all gone, as dinner 16. mayberry boy 17. daydreamer's state 20. directional suffix 21. a choir may stand on it 22. good thing 23. sailor, colloquially 24. digit in binary code 25. joseph conrad novella 34. edward who wrote the play "the goat, or who is sylvia" 35. pastor's flock 36. rebellious turner 37. vintage autos 38. kind of club that's a hint to this puzzle's theme 39. prefix with lock or knock 40. _-cone 41. colonial settlement 42. bobby orr, notably 43. vocational school instruction 46. superannuated 47. ring outcome, briefly 48. _ pants (multipocketed wear) 51. room plus, in a hotel 54. "dont _" 57. common employment benefit 60. cleveland's lake 61. enlarge a house 62. men-only 63. "the world of suzie _" 64. sierra _, africa 65. certain vanity plate for husband-and-wife cars 1. suffer from a charley horse 2. transvaal trekker 3. vanilla _ 4. "what else?" 5. "meet the fockers" co-star, 2004 6. hamelin's problem 7. "_ jury" (spillane novel) 8. zig or zag 9. s.a.s.e., e.g. 10. relax, as rules 11. berkeley breathed comic strip 12. lieutenant 13. fit snugly 18. really hot under the collar 19. like lincoln, in physique 23. uno + dos 24. straight: prefix 25. hard on the ears 26. "maria _" (dorsey tune) 27. _ to mankind 28. taken wing 29. intimidate 30. station with a show 31. the blahs 32. participated temporarily, as with a band 33. police con 38. victuals 39. florence's river 41. letter-shaped opening for a bolt 42. harley rider 44. links bend 45. bring into harmony 48. stick of gum, e.g. 49. prefix with -postale 50. common seattle forecast 51. slaw or fries, e.g. 52. reverse, on a pc 53. "the shoe _ the other foot" 54. a couple of chips, maybe 55. injury reminder 56. purchases for a shindig 58. _ 9000, sci-fi computer 59. bit of air pollution

2007-12-30T22:29:00.000-05:00

monday, december 31, 2007
lynn lempel / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: none whatsoever

theme: it's all in a day's work...

17A FILING
10D TYPING
57A BILLING
25D CALLING

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in the "notes of record" category
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lynn, thank you for a very nice year-ender!

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in the "most googled" category
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nothing strike me as being overtly googley

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in the "cool mutiple word answer" category
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17A a magnet attracts it in a physics experiment IRON FILINGS

28A divorces SPLITS UP

32A locale for a new york diva THE MET (the metropolitan opera in new york city)

43A zilch NOT A WHIT

57A star's marquee position TOP BILLING

62A have a meal at home EAT IN

9D event before moving TAG SALE

10D pre-transfusion procedure BLOOD TYPING

25D some verbal abuse NAME CALLING

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in the "abbreviations, truncations, etc." category
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38A snooper's org. C.I.A. (central intelligence agency)

55A doc's picture producer M.R.I. (magnetic resonance imaging)

26D women's links org. L.P.G.A. (ladies professional golf association)

54D inspectors of fin. books C.P.A.'S (financial... certified public accountants)

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in the "your mileage may vary" category
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favorite clue/answer: 19A between twice and never ONCE... hey, it just struck me...
most nostalgic clue/answer: 63A orange-flavored powdered drink TANG... and 64A "born free" lioness ELSA

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
1. oodles6. wide as the ocean10. huffed and puffed14. seoul's land15. diva's song16. jacob's first wife17. a magnet attracts it in a physics experiment19. between twice and never20. grand coulee, e.g.21. county seat nnw of oklahoma city22. relieve 24. at a tilt26. praise27. tire filler28. divorces32. locale for a new york diva35. what the number of birthday candles signifies36. olden times37. jinxes38. snooper's org.39. tomato-hitting-the-floor sound40. speed skater heiden41. bamboozle42. sales pitches43. zilch45. carry the day46. crazy-sounding bird47. freighters' freights51. one with a hook, line and sinker54. stuporous sleep55. doc's picture producer56. java neighbor57. star's marquee position60. genesis garden61. tall tale teller62. have a meal at home63. orange-flavored powdered drink64. "born free" lioness65. medicinal amounts1. on the _ (going to pot)2. deep pink3. enticing smell4. tv room5. two-point plays in football6. legitimate7. parched8. envy or gluttony9. event before moving10. pre-transfusion procedure11. gave for a while12. "to _ his own"13. amusement park shout18. lifeless23. "yes, madame"25. some verbal abuse26. women's links org.28. paragon of virtue29. one and only30. _ mountains, europe/asia separator31. four-footed friends32. next33. medal winner for bravery34. escape route38. nickel or dime39. shot up, as inflation41. gleeful laugh42. hindu teacher 44. misery47. king _ (dangerous snake)48. skips49. old tv comic kovacs50. leo and libra51. help illegally52. zilch53. "galveston" crooner campbell54. inspectors of fin. books58. "black gold"59. neighbor of a vietnamese

2007-12-30T13:43:00.000-05:00

SUNDAY, december 30, 2007
elizabeth c . gorski / will shortz
winter figure

ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: not bad at all

theme: frosty the snowman

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in the "notes of record" category
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nice puzzle elizabeth!

i'll be back to ramblin' longer, an' fuller... soon

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
1. land of 300+ islands5. not straight 10. words: abbr. 15. eclipse feature19. borodin's "prince _"20. n.f.l team for which barry sanders played21. "dancing with the stars" winner _ ohno22. shortly23. wright wings24. playwright fugard25. not familiar with26. nuptial exchange27. shed some light on? 29. deli offering31. artificial heat?32. pull40. like some folders41. cadaverous42. class in factories44. oil by the barrel45. photographer adams47. avalons, e.g.48. have _ (be innocent, maybe)50. date with a dr.52. no fancy threads54. piece of soap56. poker great ungar and others59. breaches60. gets a move on63. rain forests and grasslands, e.g.65. r.n.'s locale66. ice cream maker joseph67. clarinetist's purchase68. scatter 70. smidgen72. cultural funding org.73. "_ big deal!"75. 1378. dec. holiday plans?80. pump room?82. five-min. periods, maybe83. a wee hour85. without slack86. "jurassic park" actress 88. advantages90. lord's worker91. partofr.s.v.p.92. cen. parts94. yule _95. no longer working: abbr.96. bourg's department97. before, in verse98. ginger treats100. cole porter's "you dont know _"102. hitches104. fraternity letters107. provider of an old silk hat, e.g. (as depicted at the top of this puzzle)110. rugged wheels, briefly114. lyric, part 5119. rustic setting120. ear-relevant121. state one's views122. j.f.k. alternative123. "the oath" author frank 125. horizontal molding pieces 131. wolves133. mountain ridge134. lyric, part 3, after "with a"137. contents of some scrolls138. kind of track140. wound (up)141. herbal tea142. loses ground?143. crawl (with)144. lord's worker145. new year's eve parties, e.g.146. wood measure147. _ accords148. news agency started in 1925149. "endymion" poet1. holiday party2. homes that may have tunnel entrances3. lyric, part 2, after "was a"4. cheater hunters, maybe5. french chef ducasse6. luxuriousness7. one who cant have everything?8. rocker brian9. certain computer connection, briefly10. sliding door place11. "set _ the doors, 0 soul!": whitman12. forage plant13. sask. neighbor14. leg up15. snarl unsnarler16. lyric, part 417. arose18. kind of kick28. giant successes?30. shell food?33. "i beg to differ!"34. "kiss my grits" lady35. writer willy who popularized spaceflight36. _-aztecan language37. "have some!"38. second amendment advocacy grp.39. "the _ kid"42. part of many a test43. "here!"46. highlands tongue49. cardinal's home50. favorers of the young51. dish with stir-fried rice noodles53. "passion" director55. french treaty city of 180257. accord of 1985?58. what icicles do61. literary inits.62. bully63. it may be fit for a king64. 1945 battle site, for short 67. long island rail road station 69. alphabet trio 71. esoteric 74. end up with76. fall (over)77. "the _ cat" (tom and jerry short)79. pacino and others81. banks on a runway84. horace contemporary87. bobstays, e.g.89. kyle _, "the terminator" hero93. globular96. when the show must go on98. grounded flier99. "dont _ word!"101. dietary abbr.102. start another tour103. animal pouch104. feel one's way around?105. high-hats106. timid words108. places for tolls109. 1986 gene hackman film111. not narrow112. tramps113. 1/2 and 1/3 parts115. sprinkler116. heavily sedated117. _ trial basis118. holidayish124. "revolutionary" piece by chopin126. harpist, of sorts127. nobody128. visitor's sleeping spot, maybe129. "so _ be on my way / in the early mornin1 rain" (gordon lightfoot lyric)130. sleep problem132. old testament prophet135. dr. octavius, spider-man foe136. some e-mail attachments 139. legal conclusion? 141. shatner's"_ war"

2007-12-30T13:14:00.000-05:00

saturday, december 29, 2007
bob klahn / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor:

theme: none

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in the "notes of record" category
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ouch, bob!

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
1. modesty preserver, in some films11. "_ wondrous pitiful": "othello"15. old form of italian musical drama16. "_ nobody" (1983 chaka khan hit)17. public appearance preparers18. introduction to chinese?19. pixar's first feature-length film20. finger or toe22. mass appeals: abbr.23. you may be lost in the middle of it24. mckinley's first vice president27. it has a smaller degree of loft than a mashie28. cupule's contents29. sparkling30. list in a book's front: abbr.31. like racehorses32. spanish city that gave sherry its name33. _ marker, heroine of "bram stoker's dracula"34. rocket datum: abbr.35. where to pick up dates?36. fall production37. rich mine or other source of great wealth39. shuffles40. margay cousins41. siege site42. mountain sheep43. initiations47. graffitists' scrawls48. unexpected turn of events, as in a literary work50. puts away51. see-through sheets52. banks of note53. grant's position in presidential history1. shell, e.g.2. hair-raiser?3. bunch4. uniform armband5. you can make light of it6. squire7. draft picks8. private group9. even numbers10. fliers, e.g.11. meditative exercise12. end-of-year festival13. "common nonsense" author, 200214. insurance institute for highway safety concern 21. catawampus23. scoring units24. tries something25. mob rule26. one running for work?27. latin land descriptor 29. joins32. scolding wife: var.33. handle incorrectly?35. price-manipulating group36. retinue38. top-of-the-line39. rug rat41. it may be blind43. gasconade44. name equivalent to hans or ivan45. tear up46. military band49. father of hophni and phinehas, in the bible

2007-12-28T14:04:00.000-05:00

friday, december 28, 2007
john farmer / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: this pangram had me goin' crazy!

theme: none

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in the "notes of record" category
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whew! john, if i woke up without a clock/calendar i'd've sworn it was saturday! nice puzzle...

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
1. algonquian indian tribe 6. went sniggling 11. singer with the #1 hit "all i have" 14. sci-fi character whose name is an anagram of 'carolina islands' 16. otoscope user, for short 17. have quite enough for 18. medwatch agcy. 19. "i'm ready for the weekend!" 21. chalon-sur-_, france 22. "the da vinci code" priory 23. "half _..." 25. bygone ford 26. place to find a c-note? 27. climber's support 29. indian pastries 31. _ herbert, tv's mr. wizard 32. 100 qintars 33. hands out 37. constellation between cygnus and pisces 41. they're plucked 42. bird: prefix 44. star _ 45. "_ of six" (joseph conrad story collection) 46. "a parlor utensil for subduing the impenitent visitor": ambrose bierce 48. 1950s british p.m. 49. mooring site 50. stuffed with cheese, in mexican cooking 52. d-day arena: abbr. 53. some licensed practitioners 56. exercise animal? 57. hopscotch 58. tough to dig into, as soil 1. notice 2. home of many of the 1-across: abbr. 3. a long time in lisbon 4. fuchsite and alurgite 5. assuming even that 6. they'll give you the run-around 7. illuminati 8. place, e.g. 9. 7-in. platters 10. more than exalts 11. sound of change 12. mr. rosewater in kurt vonnegut's "god bless you, mr. rosewater" 13. "butterfly" actress, 1981 14. clear the way to 15. some babysitters 20. south beach, e.g. 22. northwest tribe 24. 2004 sondheim musical, with "the" 26. corinthian conclusion 28. country _ 30. it can fill a yard 33. elevator button 34. 1968 hit whose title is repeated three times with "oh" and then again after "baby i love you' 35. make hot 36. passes effortlessly 37. miss badly 38. seaman in a ceremonial honor guard 39. excise on some out-of-state purchases 40. mr. abroad 43. pluck 46. extra benefits 47. when a football may be hiked 50. geom. figure 51. "this is disastrous!" 54. pulitzer category, briefly 55. red _ (young amphibian)

2007-12-27T15:02:00.000-05:00

thursday, december 27, 2007
jim leeds / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: i was not at all "on" for this puzzle... too, too many distractions!

theme: the five longish across answers start with a 'c', altering fairly common items

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in the "notes of record" category
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the seasonal revelry continues... alas, the time for "all things puzzle" suffers!

including spelling... thanx, anon 1!
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
1. palms (off on) 5. egyptian symbols of royalty 9. casino equipment 14. "_ the agent" (old comic strip) 15. place 16. "if_you..." 17. certain marine biologist's test? 19. gainsay 20. _ kooser, former u.s. poet laureate 21. cultural stuff 22. tops 23. one way to get into a gang's headquarters? 26. splits 28. f.d.r. agcy. 29. wrinkly fruit 30. "breaker morant" people 32. lived 35. eskimos in an igloo? 39. many a person on the u.s.s. enterprise: abbr. 40. stomach contents 41. "'starts with f' for a thousand, _" 42. cartoon pooch 43. prepare trout, in a way 45. pictures of slinkys? 51. part of a. sap. 52. prefix with -phile 53. _ canto 56. wombs 57. witches' pots, pans, etc.? 59. cling plus brand 60. novelist seton 61. kiss in kensington 62. "_ we all?" 63. zest 64. 1910s heavyweight champ _ willard 1. "is that a _?" 2. poulenc's "sonata for _ and piano" 3. coos and hoots 4. triton's realm 5. red lights and flares 6. musical interval 7. _ pudding (british dish) 8. arithmetic exercise 9. beef cut 10. hebdomadally 11. five-time horse of the year, 1960-64 12. verdi aria 13. "what _ thou?" (biblical query) 18. word with bus or memory 22. dried coconut meat 24. poet who wrote "at night there is no such thing as an ugly woman" 25. windblown deposit 26. time-honored name 27. expressionist schiele 30. thin pancakes 31. let pass 32. poisonous flower 33. western hemisphere abbr. 34. hot 36. utmost distance from the eye at which an image is clear 37. triton's realm 38. not be resolved 43. kind of gland 44. like most adages: abbr. 45. _ finalis (purpose, in law) 46. massive, very hot celestial orb 47. french frigate that carried the statue of liberty to the u.s. 48. nautical acronym 49. who has won an oscar for best actor three times 50. "fiddler on the roof role 54. carrier of a bow and arrows 55. stamina 57. climax 58. financial paper: abbr.

2007-12-26T09:33:00.000-05:00

wednesday, december 26, 2007
jim page / will shortz
ny times online premium crossword puzzle

difficulty factor: not bad at all

theme: this is another of those 'almost accidental theme' puzzles... yes, there is a song in the broadway play 'annie' called "nyc". it is sung once [that is to say it is not reprised numerable times], and is not exactly a show-stopper, or maybe even that memorable... i can't help but think there may have been five better ways to theme this one...

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in the "notes of record" category
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kalisah, thanx for the spelling heads-up! your have fulfilled the criteria for your "eagle-eye"merit badge:

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
1. wrong 6. study hard and fast 10. daunt 14. game follow-up 15. sole 16. orsk's river 17. like green beret units 18. the triple in a triple play 19. just beats 20. "the defiant ones" co-star, 1958 22. rocket launcher 23. many an m.i.t. grad: abbr. 24. brillo rival 25. the second mrs. michael corleone 27. felipe calderon's land: abbr. 28. sony music player introduced in 1984 32. delineated .with "out" 36. movie chase scene, e.g. 37. yo-yo 38. song from 65-across that's hidden in 20- and 54-across and 10- and 35-down 39. just beat 40. hashish source 42. massages 43. some socks 44. would-_ (aspirants) 45. "_: miami" 46. cross-referencing word 47. organ piece 51. pale hue 54. cornmeal dish often served with maple syrup 57. gore vidal historical novel 58. langston hughes poem 59. back biter? 60. not discounted 61. terse denial 62. trims in photoshop, e.g. 63. itinerary data: abbr. 64. heroic exploit 65. hit broadway musical based on a comic strip 1. glacial ridge 2. deep pink 3. hockey no-no 4. rakish sort 5. something risky to work on 6. bleach brand 7. one-sided contests 8. not backing 9. field utensils 10. 2003 kentucky derby winner 11. andrea bocelli delivery 12. microwaves 13. "lohengrin" role 21. hand-me-down 26. quakers in the woods 27. most are good conductors 28. boxing day mo. 29. prefix with bucks 30. nailed 31. beatty and others 32. easily split mineral 33. month after shevat 34. unwelcome auto noise 35. vehicles at a petting zoo 36. part of s.s.s.: abbr. 38. grafton's"_ for noose" 41. 2008 olympics host 42. razor-sharp 44. 1984 gold-medalist marathoner joan 46. scoring attempts 47. show contempt toward 48. kite's clutcher 49. six-foot-tall african animal 50. as such 51. fit for duty 52. conk out 53. "superman ii" villainess 55. oklahoma tribe 56. workout locale, for short