The New York Times Crossword in Gothic

California Screamin’ roller coaster, Disneyland

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Puzzle by Robert A. Doll / Edited by Will Shortz

Adding“LY” to three standard phrases constitutes the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword: PORTLY AUTHORITY (16A. Hefty honcho?),GINGERLY SPICE(37A. Add just a dash of pepper?) and THE NO BELLY PRIZE(57A. Successful dieter’s award?).

Other — AMIDST, APPEAL, ARRIBA(46D. Spanish shout of joy),AS USUAL, BELLOC(49A. “Cautionary Tales for Children” writer),BROOM HILDA(15D. Russell Myers comic strip), DISNEYLAND(22D. Home of the California Screamin’ roller coaster), EDSELS, EMBARGO, EROICA, GEEZER, GLOOMY, NEREID, RAG DOLL, SNIPE AT.

Five-letter — ADAGE, AGNESMoorehead,BRAYS, CUBED, EMMAS, HAYDN, HELGA(30D. Hägar the Horrible‘s wife), LABEL, LYDIA, Phil MAHRE, PLEAT, SPRAT,“TwoYEARS Before the Mast“.

Short stuff — ALI, ALTA, ARC, ASK, ASTA, BBB, BETEnoir,BLUR,“See ifI CARE!”, CLUB, CRY, DANA, EAT, ENS, EOE, ERAT,Richard GERE, HARK, HIE, IER, ILSA (14A. The “kid“ of “Here‘s looking at you, kid“),IMAC, ITAL, OGRE, PLAN, PLY and SLY, John RAE, RES, RIND, RUT, SANG, SCAM, SERA, SHH, SIAM, SO SO, STL, TAN, TRY, TSO, ULANBator, YES and YET.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Moorehead of “Bewitched”; 6. Do a Bernie Madoff job on; 10. Hyperbola part; 13. Pants part; 15. Time-lapse photography phenomenon; 19. Want ad letters; 20. Trade barrier; 21. In the thick of; 24. Beethoven’s Third; 28. ___, the Tattooed Lady” (old tune); 29. “Don’t let them hear us!”; 32. Actresses Stone and Watson; 33. Criticize cattily; 36. “Pay ye attention!”; 41. 1964 #1 Four Seasons hit; 42. Hee-haws; 44. Former M&M’s color; 45. “Honey catches more flies than vinegar,” e.g.; 51. Entrapped; 52. Per routine; 56. Legal matter; 62. Marmalade ingredient; 63. The “E” inQ.E.D.; 64. Bottle feature; 65. What a nod may mean; 66. Richard Henry ___, author of “Two 67-Across Before the Mast”; 67. See 66-Across. — DOWN: 1. Recourse after a guilty verdict; 2. Dark and depressed; 3. Sea nymph; 4. Exhortation after saying grace; 5. Letters on a Cardinals cap; 6. Thailand, once; 7. Sam’s ___; 8. “The Thin Man” dog; 9. Skier Phil; 10. Frazier foe; 11. Same old same old; 12. Shout; 17. Even so; 18. Villain; 23. Spilled the beans; 25. Apple product; 27. Make request; 29. Jack who ate no fat; 31. “Surprise Symphony” composer; 34. Suffix with cash; 35. General on a Chinese menu; 37. Richard of “American Gigolo”; 38. Emphatic type: Abbr.; 39. Course of action; 40. Consumer protection org.; 43. Middling; 46. Spanish shout of joy; 47. White-whiskered sort; 48. Ford flops; 50. Like 125, to 5; 51. Cunning; 53. Blood fluids; 56. Resort near Snowbird; 57. Encouraging word; 58. Go in haste; 59. “Star Trek” extra: Abbr.; 60. Bath tissue feature; 61. Arctic explorer John.

Broken Mirror www.phidelity.com

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins / Edited by Will Shortz

BROKEN PROMISE[57A. Result of not following through (of which there are four examples in this puzzle’s grid)], along with PROMISE spelled out in four sets of broken circles throughout the crossword constitutes the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — DESIREE (40A. Fiancée of Napoleon),LARRY BIRD (34D. Last Celtic to wear #33),LECTURERS (11D. Some college staff),O SOLE / MIO (55D. With 12-Down, classic Neapolitan tune),SENIOR PROJECT (20A. Graduation requirement, perhaps).

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O Sole Mio

What a beautiful thing is a sunny day!

The air is serene after a storm,

The air is so fresh that it already feels like a celebration.

What a beautiful thing is a sunny day!

But another sun that's brighter still,

It's my own sun that's upon your face!

The sun, my own sun, it's upon your face!

It's upon your face!

When night comes and the sun has gone down,

I almost start feeling melancholy;

I'd stay below your window

When night comes and the sun has gone down.

But another sun that's brighter still,

It's my own sun that's upon your face!

The sun, my own sun, it's upon your face!

It's upon your face!

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Espousing crime?; 7. Custard need; 10. Michigan college or its town; 14. Baby attire with crotch snaps; 15. Pistol PAC-ers?; 16. Luau handouts; 17. Respiratory woe; 18. 1/sec, in trig; 19. Green sci.; 23. Some “Vette roofs; 24. “The Wiz: director; 25. Org. that negotiates with G.M.; 28. Matures; 30. Athlete Jim whose Native American name was Wa-Tho-Huk; 32. High-pitched cry from an ump?; 36. Scarf down; 37. Signs to heed; 38. Cooked, as Swiss steak; 42. Singer Eydie; 43. ___ Lanka; 44. Anastasia’s father was one; 45. Hullabaloo; 47. Island off the coast of Scotland; 59. Napoleonic marshal Michel; 50. Dance for two; 52. Big shot; 60. Part of 39-Down; 62. “___ had it!”; 63. “Für Elise” key; 64. Sportscaster Albert; 65. Finalized; 66. Model Bündchen; 67. Portend; 68. Shop window posting: Abbr.; 69. Sonnet’s finish. — DOWN: 1. Toot one’s horn; 2. Cartographer’s blowup; 3. “I don’t ___ respect!”; 4. “I saw ___ a-sailing…”; 5. Brunch libation; 6. Classic car datum; 7. Coat, in a way; 8. “I do” sayer; 9. Pilot light, e.g.; 10. Baldwin of “30 Rock”; 13. Nonverbal communication syst.; 21. Seek mercy, say; 22. Guiding beliefs; 26. Sleep problem; 27. “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” river; 29. “I didn’t know that!”; 31. Exclude; 32. Toy you can “put somebody’s eye out” with; 33. Soap-on-___ (bath buy); 35. Bride’s ride; 39. 1954-77 defense grp.; 40. Lose tautness; 41. Austrian “a”; 43. Official seals; 46. Jaunty in appearance; 48. Societal breakdown; 51. “Over my dead body!”; 53. Out of kilter; 54. I.Q. test pioneer; 56. Army Ranger’s topper; 58. All-night bash; 59. Threadbare threads; 60. U.N. figure: Abbr.; 61. Saint, in Rio.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Puzzle by David Levinson Wilk / Edited by Will Shortz

HRS(66D. Smash hits: Abbr.) andH&R BLOCK(67A. Subject of the final Jeopardy! question that knocked out Ken Jennings after a record 74 wins .. or a hint to this puzzle’s theme), along with HR in six squares (or blocks, if one prefers — the H&R Block logo is a green square) constitutes the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Suitable company?; 7. Model behavior; 13. Veteran; 16. Those created equal, per Jefferson; 17. Regular in Judd Apatow comedies; 18. Sheer, informally; 19. “Como ___?”; 20. State that is home to the Natl. Teachers Hall of Fame; 22. Promises to pay; 23. Came across as; 25. It can be raised or folded; 28. Flimsy, as stitching; 34. Tinseltown terrier; 38. “Sprechen ___ Deutsch?”; 39. Keys on a keyboard; 40. “Geez!”; 41. Home of the Azadi Tower; 43. Rice quarters; 44. Composer Shostakovich; 46. Extreme soreness; 47. Alternatively; 48. Kidney doctor; 51. Some pokers; 52. Gently pulls; 57. Tiny fraction of time: Abbr.; 60. “Little” name in 1960s pop; 63. Divine dish; 64. Bacteriologist Paul who coined the word “chemotherapy”; 69. Borrower; 70. Like Ziploc bags; 71. Clay targets, informally; 72. Fouled (up). — DOWN: 1. Boobs; 2. Teammate of Robinson of the 1940s-’50s Dodges; 3. Dull; 4. Religious retreat; 5. Props used in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”; 6. Gerund’s end; 7. Pops; 8. “Hip, hip, Jorge!”?; 9. Winter jaunt; 10. “If ___ believe …”; 11. Prime minister who gave his name to an article of clothing; 12. Lion prey; 14. Cartoonish cry; 15. Test subj.; 21. Texans are part of it, for short; 24. Concentrate; 26. Lowest in fat; 27. N.L. East team; 29. Never, to Nietzsche; 30. Baseball’s Iron Horse; 31. Global warming subj.; 32. Pretense; 33. Julie Andrews, for one; 34. Wing: Abbr.; 35. Equal; 36. Spill; 37. Mineral with high carbon content; 42. N.L. West team; 45. Ticket info; 49. Verb ending?; 50. Spill; 53. Big bashes; 54. Ones who may annoy hoi polloi; 55. Tante’s husband; 56. In the flesh?; 57. Flanders and Kelly; 58. William Steig book on which a hit 2001 film was based; 59. North Sea feeder; 61. Kind of tape; 62. Big source of reality TV; 65. Barracks bed; 68. Butt.

Vagabond hobo clown painting www my space com

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Friday, February 8, 2013

Puzzle by Barry C. Silk / Edited by Will Shortz

Across —1. Heavenly measurement, AZIMUTH; 8. Be unable to stand,DESPISE;15. Primary figure,NOMINEE; 16. Hand sanitizer ingredient; 17. Five-star,TOPLINE; 18. Against all standards of decency,WRONGLY; 19. 1964 album that was #1 for 11 weeks,MEET THE BEATLES; 21. Political blogger EZRAKlein; 22. Sound, HALE; 23. What many an amusement park has,THEME;24. Projecting corner,COIGN; 26. Johnny Fever’s station, WKRP; 28. Old laborer,ESNE; 29. Hide,HOLE UP; 31. Fielding percentage factor,ERROR; 33. Yogi’s sounds,OMS; 34. London’sKEW Palace; 36. Corral O.K.?, YEP; 37. 3-D picture producer, MRI; 40. It may be seen with a 37-Across, HEART; 42. Capital on the Sava River, ZAGREB; 44. 2002 Literature Nobelist IMRE Kertész; 47. Michael Jordan teammate Steve KERR; 49. Break in concentration,LAPSE; 50. Scratch, MOOLA; 52. What a bottom may be on top of,SEAT; 54. Religious leader with a pet elephant,LEO X; 55. Jack regarded as an object of devotion,ALMIGHTY DOLLAR; 58. Like orthorhombic crystals,BIAXIAL; 59. Not recognizable by,ALIEN TO;61. Rattle,UNNERVE; 62. Hijack, maybe,REROUTE; 63. What might be treated with vitamin A mega doses,MEASLES;64. One with a booming voice,STENTOR.

Down —1. Minute marcher?,ANT;2. Car ad catchphrase,ZOOM ZOOM; 3. Threatens,IMPERILS;4. Car ad datum, MILEAGE; 5. Soldier’s assignment, UNIT; 6. Like the Mets in every season from 1962 to 1965, TENTH; 7. Act like an ass,HEE-HAW;8. Bramble with edible purple fruit,DEWBERRY; 9. To be every far away?, ETRE; 10. Sty youngster,SHOAT; 11. Apple product before Tiger,PANTHER; 12. It’s spoken in los Estados Unidos,INGLES; 13. Grave,SOLEMN; 14. The Republican Guard guards it, ELYSEE;20. ELKE Sommer of Hollywood; 21. Returned waves?,ECHO;25. Zap,NUKE; 27. W., once,PREZ; 30. Mountain climber’s conquest,PEAK; 32. Australian export,OPAL; 35. Puts a hold on, say,WRESTLES; 37. Mascot since 1916,MR PEANUT; 38. Employ as plan B,RESORT TO; 39. Bearded mountain climber,IBEX; 40. Slinkys, e.g.,HELIXES; 41. Loser in war, usually,TREY; 43. Spanish Main crosser,GALLEON;44. Declaration after “Hallelujah”,I’M A BUM; 45. Illinois home o f the John Deere Pavilion,MOLINE; 46. Curia ROMANA (body assisting the pope); 48. Storm trackers,RADAR; 51. “Image ofA GIRL” (1960 hit by the Safaris); 53. Flat sign,TO LET; 56. Experience,HAVE; 57. Old Italian capital,LIRE; 60. Anthem preposition,O’ER.

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I’m somewhere in here.

Let me get posted before the blackout…

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Saturday, February 9, 2013

Puzzle by Peter Wentz / Edited by Will Shortz

Across —1. Setting for part of “A Tale of Two Cities”,BASTILLE; 9. “Awww!”,TOO BAD; 15. Aces, with “the”,CAT’S MEOW; 16. What a mass of footballers do after a tackle, UNPILE; 17. One getting poked in the eye?, SHOELACE; 18. Smell like,REEK OF; 19. Punches, informally,CLOCKS; 20. Psychologist Alfred BINET; 21. Jaunty,RAKISH; 23. Not taking a loss well, say,SORE; 24. High, in a way,ON POT; 25. Its positions are labeled North, South, East and West,MAH JONGG; 29. Number of Planeten,ACHT; 30. Ones who are counter-productive?,BARTENDERS;32. Funny MargaretCHO; 3. Completely covers,CARPETS;34. Nag (at),EAT; 35. Microwaveable food brand,HOT POCKETS; 37. Centimeter-gram-second unit,DYNE;38. Dead duck, maybe,ROAD KILL; 39. Union V.I.P., MEADE; 40. One might be performed en avant,JETÉ; 41. Grow more and more irksome,FESTER; 42. Country music’s DEANA Carter; 44. Architectural base,PLINTH; 46. Film hero chasing a motorcycle gang,MAD MAX; 47. Put on the line,AIR-DRIED; 50. “Let’s do it!”,I’M GAME;51. Chatted up,CAME ON TO; 52. REESES Puffs; 53. Target of thrown bricks, in early comics,KRAZY KAT.

Down — N.C.A.A. football ranking system,BCS; 2. “Now I see!”,AHA;3. Picture on file,STOCK PHOTO; 4. “The Hippopotamus” writer,T S ELIOT; 5. “Wait, this isn’t making sense”,I’M LOST; 6. Separate through percolation,LEACH;7. Sure thing, LOCK; 8. Milk sources, EWES; 9. Concorde features,TURBO JETS; 10. Rare driving choices,ONE IRONS; 11. Like some flexible mortgages,OPEN END; 12. ExerciseBIKE; 13. Loads, A LOT;14. “DEF Poetry Jam”; 21. Raid target,ROACH; 22. Position in a relay, ANCHOR; 23. Historical community,SHTETL; 25. Rap’s BizMARKIE;26. Last name in women’s skin care,ARPEL; 27. “Pretty obvious, huh?”,GEE YA THINK; 28. Certain coffee order, GRANDE; 30. I.R.S. settlement,BACK TAXES; 31. Take turns?, STEER; 33. Part of a cover,CODE NAME; 36. Some silk threads,PAJAMAS; 37. Trounce, DESTROY; 39. Cuban-born Baseball Hall-of-Famer JoséMÉNDEZ; 42. “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” figure,DAME; 43. Threshold, EDGE; 44. Load,PACK; 45. One who’s incredible,LIAR; 46. Peace abroad, MIR; 48. Listing that can change based on the weather, for short,ETA; 49. Flyspeck,DOT.

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Photo of a car buried in the snow courtesy of Stephanie B.

outside her home in Tewksbury, Mass., February 10, 2013

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Sunday, February 10, 2013

I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME, Puzzle by Patrick Berry

Edited by Will Shortz

I was going to take a picture of my car buried in the snow, but the one above looks about the same…

Redundancy is the tie for the interrelated group of this Sunday crossword:

GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME(22A. Somewhat redundant 1965 country song?)
HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS (30A. Somewhat redundant Milton Bradley game?)
EXTRA EXTRA LARGE (49A. Somewhat redundant size?)
THE WILD WILD WEST (64A. Somewhat redundant 1960s spy series?)
SHORT SHORT STORY (83A. Somewhat redundant literary genre?)
OFF OFF BROADWAY SHOW (100A. Somewhat redundant theater production?)
IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD (112A. Extremely redundant 1963 caper film?)

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Wallop; 6. Gray piece; 10. Cricket club; 13. Fair-minded; 17. “Funeral Blues” writer; 18. “Pity is for the living, ___ is for the dead”: Twain; 19. Kaplan of “Welcome Back, Kotter”; 20. Info from a debriefing; 26. Journalist Couric; 27. ___ Lang, Superboy’s love; 28. 1951 Cooperstown inductee; 29. Increases, with “up”; 35. Show featuring the L.V.P.D.; 38. Oktoberfest collectibles; 39. Cotillion attendee; 40. Power in sci-fi; 41. Kneeler’s offering; 43. Ambient musician Brian; 44. Org. that fines polluters; 45. Chicken bred for its meat; 54. Roof projection; 55. Constitutional; 56. Bedtime preyer?; 57. “Nick News” host Linda; 60. Song featured in “Animal House”; 61. Bakery array; 62. Reacted to a bad call; 63. Mr. Bill appeared on it: Abbr.; 69. Sound of heartbreak; 72. Picks up; 73. Cartoon beagle; 74. Hit the roof; 78. Like some passages in a symphony; 80. Elton John nickname; 81. Deli appliance; 82. O’Neill’s “___ Christie”; 88. Scrammed; 91. Brief laugh; 92. Flamboyant stole; 93. Machiavellian concerns; 94. John of Salisbury; 95. Pink lady ingredient; 96. “The things I put up with!; 99. Buff; 106. Glinda’s creator; 107. Clock face number; 108. Repo justification; 109. Core philosophy; 118. “Ta-da!; 119. Patron saint of sailors; 120. Cut and collect; 121. 128-character set; 122. Job title abbr.; 123. Cooper Union’s location, briefly; 124. Haute cuisine it’s not; 125. Chews (out). — DOWN: 1. Not look perky, say; 2. Visibility reducer; 3. Skull session result; 4. Comb row; 5. Ancient Roman author Quintus ___; 6. In accordance with; 7. Goalie’s jersey number, often; 8. A Waugh; 9. Human speech mimickers; 10. Shearing shed sound; 11. Swallow, as costs; 12. Clearly low on patience; 13. Peter Pan rival; 14. Not as content; 15. Percussive dance troupe; 16. Musician’s rate; 19. Will Geer’s role on “The Waltons”; 21. Minus; 23. Refined; 24. Animal whose head doesn’t make a sound?; 25. Common check box on surveys; 31. MTV’s earliest viewers, mostly; 32. With 33-Down, plastic shields and such; 33. See 32-Down; 34. Equal: Prefix; 35. Tangy salad leaves; 36. Amendment guaranteeing a speedy trial; 37. Part of the front matter; 42. Mosaicist’s supply; 44. South Dakota Air Force base; 45. Not on deck, maybe; 46. R&D sites; 47. Unchanging; 48. Walk while dizzy; 50. Wimbledon champ Gibson; 51. Shakes up; 52. Very impressed; 53. Crystal Cave is one; 58. Common middle name; 59. E Day debuts; 61. Emergency; 62. Captain who says “Well, gentlemen, between ourselves and home are 27,000 sea miles”; 65. Fill up on; 66. Perfume sampling spot; 67. Roman calendar day; 68. Overused; 69. One way to go to a party; 70. “What a calamity!”; 71. Inclination; 75. Big East sch.; 76. Proust’s “E la Recherche du Temps ___”; 77. Sweet meet?; 79. Nabisco treats sold only seasonally; 81. Hidden; 84. Athens’s home; 85. 1950s TV star Duncan; 86. Do as expected; 87. Old World deer; 89. Body blow reaction; 90. World capital situated in what was once ancient Thrace; 95. How bad news is often received; 96. Attests; 97. “Music for the Royal Fireworks” composer; 98. Open conflict; 100. End note?; 101. Nickname of jazz’s Earl Hines; 102. Joins; 103. Cheney’s follower; 104. Slow on the uptake; 105. “___ Body?” (first Lord Peter Wimsey novel); 110. Marine threat; 111. Skinny; 113. Satisfied; 114. “Breaking Bad” network; 115. Great Leap Forward overseer; 116. BlackBerry buy; 117. Slam.

The Grammy Award

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Sunday, February 10, 2013

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s richly tuneful acrostic published on the day of the annual Grammy Awards draws a quotation from a recorded speech sent to Thomas Alva Edison by Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan.

The quotation: DEAR MR EDISON I AM ASTONISHED AND SOMEWHAT TERRIFIED AT THIS EVENINGS EXPERIMENT ASTONISHED AT THE WONDERFUL POWER YOU HAVE DEVELOPED AND TERRIFIED AT THE THOUGHT THAT SO MUCH BAD MUSIC MAY BE PUT ON RECORD FOREVER

The author’s name and the title of the work: SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN PHONOGRAM

The defined words:

A. Toon with a toy piano, SCHROEDER
B. Repository for a song collection, IPOD
C. Expressively varying tempo, RUBATO
D. Jazz composer of “Interlude in B flat” (2 wds.),ARTIE SHAW
E. Broadway grab bag, REVUE
F. Give a first-person account, TESTIFY
G. From now until the end of time, HENCEFORTH
H. “Yeah!” and “OMG” performer, USHER
I. Edited in GarageBand, maybe, REMIXED
J. Accessory for Roy Orbison or Ringo Starr, SHADES
K. What a raised baton signals, UPBEAT
L. Extreme technophobe, LUDDITE
M. Greatest hits album for Bob Marley & the Wailers, LEGEND
N. Members of the Chieftains, e.g., IRISHMEN
O. Label for Count Basie, Billie Holiday and Dizzy Gillespie, VERVE
P. Sat in on without credit, AUDITED
Q. Longtime jazz critic for The Village Voice (2 wds.),NAT HENTOFF
R. Locate as though with a needle, PINPOINT
S. It may have four parts, HARMONY
T. Sibling pop stars’ surname, OSMOND
U. Internet radio, video games, etc. (2 wds.),NEW MEDIA
V. Doubling of frequency, in electronics, OCTAVE
W. Site of the last Grammy show not held in La-La Land, GOTHAM
X. Theme song for Earl (Fatha) Hines, ROSETTA
Y. Juno, Tony or Webby, AWARD
Z. Hymn writer Charles Wesley, by denomination,METHODIST

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The full paragraph of the phonogram: I can only say that I am astonished and somewhat terrified at the result of this evening's experiments: astonished at the wonderful power you have developed, and terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music may be put on record forever. But all the same I think it is the most wonderful thing that I have ever experienced, and I congratulate you with all my heart on this wonderful discovery.

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Yellow cabs viewed from the Goodyear Blimp, as they wait for fares at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, June 14, 2007. Photo by Todd Heisler/The New York Times Photo Archives

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Monday, February 11, 2013

Puzzle by Gary Cee / Edited by Will Shortz

SHARE A CAB(62A. Split the taxi fare … and what the words do in 18-, 24-, 39- and 55-Across),LUCA BRASI(18A. Personal enforcer in “The Godfather”),RCA BUILDING (24A. Onetime name at New York’s Rockefeller Center),ARTISTIC ABILITY (39A. Skill with a paintbrush, say) and JESSICA BIEL (55A. Actress who married Justin Timberlake in 2012) constitute the interrelated group of this speedy Monday crossword.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Use a wire brush on; 6. Event Cinderella attended; 10. Turkish military leader; 14. Sports venue; 15. Certain woodwind; 16. Serious-looking; 17. A little lit; 20. Employ; 21. Even’s opposite; 23. Housetops; 28. Initials at the start of a memo; 30. Home to the N.F.L.’s Saints, informally; 31. The Eagles’ “___ Eyes”; 32. No ___, ands or buts; 33. Meadow; 35. Swindle; 38. Aunt, in Acapulco; 44. Actress Arthur; 45. Country south of Ecuador; 46. ___ alai; 47. Antlered animal; 48. Archipelago part; 50. Trims the lawn; 54. Coat and ___; 58. Descendant; 60. 24-hr. source of money; 61. Luau neckwear; 65. Mix; 67. Foot-long sandwich; 68. Ring up; 69. Like a coincidence that makes you go “Hmm …”; 70. Adam and Eve’s garden; 71. ___ of life (part of 70-Across); 72. Traditional Valentine’s Day gift. — DOWN: 1. Planet with rings; 2. Shortening brand; 3. Nullify, as a law; 4. Young ___ (kids); 5. Louisiana body of water; 6. How to “go where no man has gone before”; 7. ___ Dhabi; 8. ___ cit. (footnote abbr.); 9. Get the hang of; 10. Farming-related: Prefix; 11. Writing on the wall; 12. Tantrum; 13. French friend; 19. Marsh; 22. Open wider, as a pupil; 25. 48-Across east of Java; 26. Talk over; 27. Ancient native of 45-Across; 29. “___, old chap!”; 34. Paranormal power, for short; 36. Utterly hopeless; 37. Actress Farrow; 39. Aid and ___; 40. Got a kick out of; 41. Friendly send-off; 42. Colored eye part; 43. Arm or leg; 49. Legally obligated; 51. Edmonton hockey team; 52. Hot dog, informally; 53. Projector inserts; 55. QB Namath of Montana; 56. Make into law; 57. Deep yellow; 59. Fe, chemically; 62. “That’s all ___ wrote!”; 63. Ford or Lincoln; 64. Taproom order; 68. Sign between Cancer and Virgo.

Flappers seated in automobile, ca. 1920s

Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

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Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Puzzle by Dan Schoenholz / Edited by Will Shortz

HOOD, TRUNK, DASH and FENDER found in BOYZ ‘N THE HOOD(20A. 1991 film that earned John Singleton a Best Director nomination),ELEPHANT TRUNK (29A. What a blind man mistakes for a snake, in a fable),FORTY-YARD DASH (44A. Test at a football tryout) and FREDDY FENDER(54A. Singer of the 1975 #1 hit “Before the Next Teardrop Falls”) constitutes the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.

Other — EDIFIED(43D. Spiritually uplifted),GRANDDAD (39D. Pop’s pop), HYPHENED (8D. Like Olivia Newton-John’s last name), LAPTOPS (5D. Portable computers).

Mid-size — ADAIR (31D. Legendary firefighter Red),AERIE, ALAMO, ARGYLE, CRIBS, DAY SPA, ELBOW, EVADE, HAS AT, HEDGES, LEAST, MAKES, N TEST, OH OH OH, POLAR, RAN ON, RENEW, ROLES, TESTY,TerenceTRENT D‘Arby,U HAUL, UTMOST,PeterYARROW.

Short stuff — AHOY, AID, ALPE, AMOR, ANNArbor, “I hate to break upA SET“, ASK, BULB, BUS, COME, CRAG, DEAD, DELE, “Gloria in ExcelsisDEO“, DESI, EAT, ENS and ESS, EVE, FAME, FRY, GAD, GEEZ, HEAD, In aHUFF, IAN,WilliamINGE, LOCH Ness,Fleur-de-LYS, NOVA, OGRRE, OLDE, OLE, ONTO, PAR, POMP, RARE, SKEW, SNL, SPRY, TRI, TOO, TYNE, UMPS, UNDO, UTE, VEIN.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Rocky outcrop; 9. Self-mover’s rental; 14. “Bloody”; 15. Ship-to-ship call; 16. Irritable; 17. “Picnic” playwright William; 18. Circumstance’s partner; 19. Earns; 23. NBC fixture since ‘75; 24. In addition; 25. U.S.N. rank; 26. Train alternative; 33. Twisty turn; 35. Shoppe sign word; 36. Begins to pursue vigorously; 39. Wander (about); 40. Part of a shirt that may develop a hole; 41. Callers o strikes and balls; 42. Prefix with cycle or city; 43. Night before; 44. Test at a football tryout; 48. Cook in oil; 49. ___ Arbor, Mich.; 50. Lend a hand; 51. Nosh; 57. Like some bears; 60. Lucy’s husband or son; 61. Shrek, e.g.; 62. San Antonio landmark, with “the”; 63. Mont Blanc, par exemple; 64. Artery’s counterpart; 65. Keep for another three weeks, say as a library book; 66. Like some batteries. — DOWN: 1. Nursery sights; 2. Went long, as a sentence; 3. Sweater or sock pattern; 4. “Man!”; 5. Portable computers; 6. “Call on me! Call on me!”; 7. Accompany, with “with”; 9. Absolute maximum; 10. Focus of a phrenologist; 11. Seek answers; 12. Beehive State native; 21. Mushroom cloud producer, in brief; 22. No longer fooled by; 25 Onion, for one; 27. Cancel; 28. Twist, as facts; 30. Absolute minimum; 32. Actors’ parts; 36. In a ___ (indignant); 37. Roman god of love; 38. Surprisingly agile for one’s age; 40. Dodge; 42. Daly of “Cagney & Lacey”; 43. Spiritually uplifted; 45. Peter of Peter, Paul and Mary; 46. Place for pampering; 47. Yard separators; 52. Nest that may be found on a 1-Across; 53. Singer Terence ___ D’Arby; 54. Stardom; 55. Edit out; 56. Kind of lox; 57. Standard for the course; 58. Bullring “Bravo!”; 59. Office computer linkup, for short.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Puzzle by Richard and Judith Martin / Edited by Will Shortz

GED(44D. Many a H.S. dropout’s goal … and what’s added to 17-, 25-, 36-, 51- and 60-Across), along with (think The A-Team, bad dog, Jackie Chan, TV tray, and VISA card),THE AGED TEAM, BADGE DOG, JACKIE CHANGED, TV TRAGEDY and VISAGED CARD(clued as Senior softballers, e.g.?; K-9 Corps member?; Former first lady sporting a different outfit?; Small-screen performance of “Hamlet,“ e.g.?; King, queen or jack?) constitute the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword.

Other — ERIN and ERROLS(26D. CNN’s Burnett; 29A. CNN’s Barnett and others), NANETTE (57A. Broadway title character who sings “Tea for Two”),NOT ALL THERE (24D. A few bricks short of a load),SPEEDOMETER(11D. Dash component).

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Blood bank supplies; 8. Foliage-viewing mo.; 11. Welcome sign for a B’way angel; 14. Dental deposits; 15. P, to Pythagoras; 16. Pricing word; 17. Senior softballers, e.g.?; 19. LAX monitor info; 20. “The Turner Diaries” conflict; 21. ___ Flux (Charlize Theron role); 22. Star in Cygnus; 25. K-9 Corps member?; 27. Gooey camp fare; 30. Counterpart of long.; 31. Had down cold; 35. Descartes’ “sum,” translated; 36. Former first lady sporting a different outfit?; 41. El Al hub city; 42. Tried to win; 43. Make “it”; 45. Greyhound lookalike; 48. Magician’s hiding spot; 51. Small-screen performance of “Hamlet,” e.g.?; 55. Missed the mark; 56. Thai currency; 59. Vacation time in Versailles; 60. King, queen or jack?; 64. Lineage-based women’s org.; 65. Ore suffix; 66. Sparkly component of face paint; 67. ‘Fore; 68. Leftorium owner on “The Simpsons”; 69. Teeter-totters, SEESAWS. — DOWN: 1. Fig. on an I.R.S. schedule; 2. “Well, ___-di-dah!”; 3. Barley wine, really; 4. Fun house worker, maybe; 5. Zimbabwean strongman Robert; 6. Author Waugh; 7. Lesser-played half of a 45; 8. Nymph of Mount Ida, e.g.; 9. Use plastic; 10. Certain turkey; 12. Prepare for next year’s models, say; 13. Cousins of chimps; 18. Pan Am rival; 21. “What ___” (“Ho-hum”); 22. Cable alternative, for short; 23. Mus. Key with four sharps; 28. One of a biathlete’s pair; 32. Common packaging word; 33. “The Name of the Rose” author; 34. “___ knows?”; 37. Try to win; 38. Pittsburgh radio station since 1920, said to be the world’s first; 39. Fool; 40. Humorist Barry; 45. “Venerable” monk of old England; 46. First movie to gross more than $2 billion (2009); 47. Put a match to; 49. Allow to expire; 50. Puts up; 52 Relaxed; 53. Paternity suit evidence; 54. Safecrackers; 58. Prefix with cast; 60. Rouge or blanc selection; 61. ___ crossroads; 62. FF’s opposite, on a VCR; 63. “ER” personnel.

Dutch Door by Michael Dumas

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Thursday, February 14, 2013 — Valentine’s Day

Puzzle by Jules P. Markey / Edited by Will Shortz

OPEN DOOR(61A. Welcoming symbol … or what each part of the answers to the six starred clues can do?) is the tie-in of the interrelated group of this Thursday crossword:

FIRESIDE (16A. *Comfy place), fire door, side door
DUTCH OVEN (20A. *Alternative to a Crock-Pot), Dutch door, oven door
STEEL TRAP (27A. *Metaphor for a sharp mind), steel door, trap door
ELEVATOR CAR (36A. *Gathering spot for the upwardly mobile?), elevator door, car door
BARNSTORM (45A. *Campaign from town to town), barn door, storm door
BACKSTAGE (55A. *Where a cast may be found), back door, stage door

Other — EURO COIN(36D. New mintage of 2002);EYE EXAM(11D. Test with letters);FEB and ROSES(33A. American Heart Mo. [appropriately]; 8A. Best buds?);LA PALMA (40D. One of the Canary Islands);SAY NO TO (12D. Refuse); SHABBAT(39D. Day of rest);SOLVE FOR(10D. Algebra problem directive).

Mid-size — AABBA, AFTRA, AMINES, APOLOAnton Ohno, RickASTLEY,Gen.BRENTScowcroft, CT SCAN, DEFAT, ECASH, EELED, ELICIT, ENACT, GASSES, HARD G, LATOYAJackson,MAORIS, Peter O’TOOLE, PARADE, Ahmad RASHAD, REDDER, REFERS, RELOAN, ROEPER, SHELVE, STEVECase,TANGS, TYPE O.

Short stuff — JaiALAI, APO, ARB, BELcanto,BLEUcheese,EAR, EGO, ELAN, ESE and EVE, ETC, EXO, FRO, GOLF, KUNG fu, LACE, LEG, Hideo NOMO, OBI, ORB, OTC, OTTO, PDAS, REPO, RID, RTES, SENS, SLUE, TEA and YEA.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Tow job, maybe; 5. Saturn or Mercury; 13. Stylishness; 15. A Jackson; 18. Rick who sang “Together Forever”; 19. PayPal money; 22. Clear; 23. Oahu-to-Molokai dir.; 25. Truly; 26. Prefix with thermal; 30. Make lean; 32. Woman in a garden; 35. Pitcher Hideo ___; 39. Turn about; 41. Discernment of a sort; 42. Enumeration follower; 43. What George lacks?; 50. Return address for many absentee ballots: Abbr.; 51. Wall St. insider, maybe; 53. Like some stocks, for short; 54. Weak ___; 58. Skater ___ Anton Ohno; 60. Garment with buttons on the left; 63. Compounds with nitrogen; 64. Where a cast may be found; 66. Sharp tastes; 67. Big do; 68. Filibusterers, e.g.: Abbr. — DOWN: 1. Directs; 2. Draw; 3. Detour-causing event; 4. Some poor Olympic scores; 5. Eastern wrap; 6. Like Texas vis-à-vis New York, politically; 8. Four-time Pro Bowler Ahmad; 9. “Beetle Bailey” dog; 10. Algebra problem directive; 15. Some frills; 17. Put off till later; 21. Universal donor’s classification; 24. Case who co-founded AOL; 28. Caught fish in a pot, say; 29. Broadcast workers’ union; 31. Pass; 34. Gen. Scowcroft who advised Ford and Bush; 37. Limerick scheme; 38. Oncology procedure; 39. Day of rest; 44. Dangerous buildup in a mine; 46. Onetime Ebert partner; 47. Eight-time Oscar nominee who never won; 48. Advance again; 49. Hunters of the now-extinct moa; 52. Shippers plans: Abbr.; 57. “An expensive way of playing marbles,” per G. K. Chesterton; 62. Massage target, maybe.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Puzzle by Tom Heilman / Edited by Will Shortz

COPACETIC (11D. Ducky),GAS ENGINE (30D. It works via a series of explosions),RINGSIDE SEAT (29A. Close match point?),SLIDING SCALE (38A. Variable pay schedule),SPREAD EAGLE (9D. Like a snow angel maker, at times),THIS INSTANT(22D. Now) are the main entries of this Friday crossword.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Smelting ended it; 9. Latin pop Grammy winner Jon; 15. Intellectually stimulating; 16. Drive; 17. Traditional; 18. Scam; 19. Pringles Light ingredient; 20. Roster shortened; 21. Bach wrote three for violin; 25. Impenetrable; 26. Thornton Wilder, while earning his B.A.; 27. Debt memo; 28. Mower handle?; 32. Knuckles the Echidna’s company; 33. Crayola color introduced in 1958; 34. Wish-washy reply; 41. Put away one’s own groceries?; 43. Nagg’s wife in Samuell Beckett’s “Endgame”; 44. Ziploc bag introducer; 45. They have their own kingdom; 46. Whisk clean; 48. Procured unlawfully, old-style; 49. What Montana was in the ‘80s; 50. CW series based on a French film; 51. “Piranha” director, 1978; 54. One of the Wayans brothers; 55. Wicker seat place?, 56. As far out as possible; 57. Blooms named for their scent. — DOWN: 1. Ice cream store employees; 2. Invent something; 3. Activity for diners and list makers; 4. Just starting to learn; 5. Controversial school language subject; 6. Weather might delay it: Abbr.; 7. Square dance partner; 8. Antiquity, in antiquity; 10. 1890-1941 Italian colony; 12. Like hydra neurons; 13. Characterize; 14. Caine character who’s left wondering; 22. Now; 23. Served; 24. Quaint undies; 31. Resilient strength; 35. Paintings often including an infant; 36. Kindergarten song; 37. Some graveyard flora; 39. Figure of speech like “not unlike”; 40. Not unlike a ballet dancer; 41. Acting as one; 42. Named names, say; 45. McCarthy-era epithet; 47. Source of grand sounds?; 51. Extrude; 52. Relative of -ish; 53. Spanish demonstrative.

A Little Bird Told Me by Gretchen Lynne

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Saturday, February 16, 2013

Puzzle by Michael Ashley / Edited by Will Shortz

FOZZIE BEAR (27D. Orange children’s character),HAZARD AN OPINION (38A. Dare to put in one’s two cents),LET IT LOOSE (13D. Triple-platinum Gloria Estefan album with “Rhythm is Gonna Get You”),LITTLE BIRD (12D. Source of a secret, in a phrase),LOADED UP ON(26D. Stockpiled),REAL NAMES(20D. Spies often don’t use them),STOOD IN LINE (23D. Queued) andXTREME GAMES (7D. They might include BMX and wakeboarding, informally) are the long entries in this Saturday crossword.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Help for someone just browsing?; 8. 1-Across source; 15. Raving; 16. Buds; 17. Stimulant; 18. “The Consul” composer; 19. What a screen may block; 21. Submitted; 22. Noggins; 24. Mouth filler; 25. Zulu’s counterpart; 29. “___ Arizona Skies” (early John Wayne film); 31. Giveaway; 33. Stimulate; 35. Shadows; 37. Creature whose genus name and English name are the same; 41. Tool shed tool; 42. Flip; 43. Clipped; 44. Number of strings on a Spanish guitar; 46. Tourney round; 48. Some homages; 49. Bush whackers?; 51. Actress Berger; 53. Not strictly adhering to tempo; 55. Part of an ice pack?; 59. Simian; 61. Series begun in 2007; 63. Bet everything; 64. Midday appointments; 65. Like some director’s cuts; 66. Wraps. — DOWN: 1. Goliath, e.g.; 2. “Suicide Blonde” band; 3. Torment; 4. ___ Railroad, 1832-1960; 5. Like a lot?; 6. Shipping weight; 8. Year “Tosca” premiered; 9. Sources of iron and manganese; 10. Defensive strategies; 11. Part of a plot; 14 Alphabet book phrase; 25. Eastern generals; 28. Actor Butterfield of “Hugo”; 30. Fielder’s challenge; 32. Pool parts; 34. Big of work; 36. Alma mater for McDonnell and Douglas of McDonnell Douglas; 39. Bashes; 40. Prefix with realism; 45. Part of an “@” symbol; 47. Board; 52. Temporarily formed; 53. ___ Bolognese; 54. Sooner alternative; 56. Spanish title; 57. “Your” alternative; 58. “Days of Heaven” co-star, 1978; 60. Wideout, in football; 62. Stovetop sound.

Punctuation, by Jim Rohan, Lower Darnley, flickr.com

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Sunday, February 17, 2013

MARK MY WORDS, Puzzle by Ian Livengood

and J.A.S.A. Crossword Class

Edited by Will Shortz

In this solemn Sunday’s crossword, five squares work as punctuation marks across and letters down:

C.S.I.: NY and COLONEL MUSTARD (12A. Gotham police procedural; 15D. One of the usual suspects?)
THE IN-CROWD and BALDERDASH (45A. Cool people; 6D. Twiddle)
"RACHEL, RACHEL" andWING COMMANDER (57A. 1968 movie directed by Paul Newman; 47D. Rank below group captain)
"FROST/NIXON" and SLASHER FILM (94A. Tony-nominated play made into an Oscar-nominated movie; 95D. “Halloween,” e.g.)
DR. DREand EDWARDIAN PERIOD (126A. Co-founder of Death Row Records; 72D. Early 20^th century, in British history)

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Summation symbol in math; 6. Baseball team’s leading hitter; 18. “Your ___ …”; 19. Body of water on the Uzbek border; 21. Post-1968 tennis; 22. Silly; 23. Magic once; 24. Rear guard?; 25. CVS competitor; 27. What a faker may put on; 28. Gotham-bound luggage letters; 30. Estuary, e.g.; 31. Like a walk in the part; 32. Group with the monster 1994 album “Monster”; 34. Like the dish kimchi; 36. Followers of 1-Acrosses; 38. “Aida” figure; 41. Preserve, as fodder; 43. It’s good for what ails you; 48. Sugar suffix; 49. What a raised hand may signal; 50. Nuts; 51. Show tune with the lyric “Here am I, your special island”; 53. Cosine reciprocal; 55. 1960s-’70s drama set in San Francisco; 58. Allow; 60. Egg choice; 61. Go up against; 62. Heart; 64. Bitmap image; 65. Thor’s domain; 70. Forerun; 74. Chaney of “Of Mice and Men”; 75. Beast that killed Adonis; 76. Way off; 80. Actor Quinn; 81. “Heavens to Betsy!”; 84. What many op art designs appear to do; 86. Fictional Indiana town where “Parks and Recreation” is set; 88. Upside-down container; 90. Space effect, for short; 91. Word from Hamlet while holding a skull; 92. Pince-___; 97. Paper size: Abbr.; 98. Dance in ¾ time; 100. China and environs; 101. It might come out in the wash; 103 Lacking scruples; 105. B&O and others; 106. Silent interval; 110. 1945 Pacific battle site, informally; 111. Catch; 112. Abe; 114. Relatively inexpensive wrap; 116. Had a senior moment; 119. Work from a folder; 122. Island SW of Majorca; 123. Some paneling; 124. Old North State native; 125. Piece of the past; 127. Some ocean debris; 128. Pastime for Barack Obama at Camp David. — DOWN: 1. English division; 2. Coastal Anatolian region; 3. Barbecue annoyances; 4. Miss at the movies?; 5. Region; 7. Tax law subj.; 8. Big do; 9. There’s no escaping this; 10. Request that one attend; 11. Certain joint; 12. Apple core, briefly; 13. Unruffled; 14. Prefix with red; 16. Org. with an eagle in its logo; 17. Piehole; 20. “Blue in the Night” composer Harold; 21. Certain sultan’s subjects; 26. Country with a supreme leader; 29. Petroleum distillate; 33. Source of the line “What’s done is done”; 35. Ginger feature; 37. Drunkard; 39. Angry cat’s sound; 40. 1/24 of un giorno; 42. “___ Miz”; 44. Better suited; 45. Careered; 46. Split part of a reindeer; 49. Car radio button; 50. Top; 52. ‘90s-’00s Britcom; 54. Month after Av; 56. Microsoft Surface competitor; 57. Uncertain; 59. Tom Cruise’s character in “Mission: Impossible”; 63. Hägar’s wife in the funnies; 66. Round up; 67. ___ Laënnec, inventor of the stethoscope; 68. Pursue; 69. Certain bid, informally; 70. Kind of court or cross;71. Bridge dividing the San Marco and San Polo districts; 72. Early 20^th century, in British history; 73. Pink-slips; 76. Answer man?; 77. Old West casino game; 78. Oceans; 79. Pump option: Abbr.; 82. Itch cause; 83. It brightens up a performance; 85. Yom Kippur War weaponry; 87. Record producer Brian; 89. Gray shade; 93. Twisty-horned creatures; 96. Opportunity creator; 98. Go-between; 99. Sci-fi staple; 102. Partner of operated; 104. Blazing; 107. Submit an online return; 108. “___ Q” (Creedence Clearwater Revival hit); 109. Plot; 113. Dundee denials; 115. Cocktails with crème de cassis; 116. Letters on briefs; 117. Celtic water deity; 118. Poet’s “before”; 120. Post-1858 rule; 121. “Give___ break!”.

Monday, February 18, 2013 — Presidents' Day

Puzzle by Jeffrey Harris / Edited by Will Shortz

CONTROL GROUP(46A. Set of people receiving a placebo, perhaps … or what the ends of 20-, 28- and 41-Across belong to?),GOBBLERS KNOB (20A. Home of the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil),CUTE AS A BUTTON (28A. Simply adorable) and BAIT AND SWITCH (41A. Underhanded commercial ploy) constitute the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Thin opening; 5. Economist Smith who coined the term “invisible hand”; 9. Planet’s path; 14. Biblical ark builder; 15. “The ___ Ranger”; 16. “Alfie” star Michael; 17. Zenith; 18. Stringed instrument for a madrigal; 19. Kind of steak; 23. Carry with effort; 24. Drowsiness-inducing drug; 28. Simply adorable; 32. “Oh, man!”; 33. Zoo enclosures; 34. Maximum number of terms for a U.S. president; 35. Hoedown females; 36. High-pitched warble; 37. Speaker’s stand; 38. Fitting; 39. Green with the 2010 hit “Forget You”; 40. Shiites or Sunnis; 44. Los Angeles district near Sherman Oaks; 45. China’s Chairman ___; 53. Lessen; 56. Dubuque’s state; 57. In addition; 58. Arctic or Antarctic; 59. Singsongy cadence; 60. Like games that head into overtime; 61. Ones at the top of the corporate ladder; 62. “What ___ is new?”; 63. Concludes. — DOWN: 1. Get caught on something; 2. Plumb crazy; 3. Poetic foot; 4. Low spirits, as experienced by St. Louis’s hockey team?; 5. State without proof; 6. Gloomy; 7. Kitchen pests; 8. Timid; 9. Sea creature with suckers; 10. See 43-Down; 11. Who’s Who entry, briefly; 12. Quaint lodging; 13. Golf peg; 21. Skating jump; 22. ___ Peace Prize; 25. Add to an e-mail, as a file; 26. “Specifically …”; 27. Deputy sheriff in “The Dukes of Hazzard”; 28. Boston N.B.A.’er; 29. Like wealthy landowners; 30. Goes to sea; 31. Shining; 32. Tokyo’s home; 35. Kaplan of “Welcome Back, Kotter”; 36. Mortise’s partner, in carpentry; 37. Put ornaments on; 39. Ones paddling down a river say; 40. Male deer; 42. Breath mint brand; 43. The White 10-Down’s cry in “Alice in Wonderland”; 47. Scrabble piece; 48. Agitate; 49. Big-eyed birds; 50. Actress Lena; 51. Like thrift store merchandise; 52. Pea holders; 53. Gorilla; 54. Emulate Muhammad Ali; 55. Brewery product.

Hoover Dam, photo Bureau of Reclamation

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Puzzle by Barry Franklin and Sara Kaplan / Edited by Will Shortz

Who, what, when, where, how and whyare phonetically represented at the starts of six very loosely-related entries in this friendly Tuesday crossword:

HOOVER DAM(18A. Construction on the Colorado River)
WATSON AND CRICK (23A. DNA modelers)
WENCESLAUS (29A. Sainted king who inspired a carol)
WEREWOLVES (41A. Lycanthropes)
HOUSING PROJECT (45A. Publicly funded residential complex)
WYATT EARP (55A. Lawman at the O.K. Corral)

Good King Wenceslas on a biscuit tin, made by Hudson, Scott & Sons for Huntley & Palmers, 1913

Other —KILOJOULE(33D. 1,000 watt-seconds),KNEE SOCKS(4D. Shin coverers),LET IT SNOW (3D. Phrase sung three times in a row in a holiday song), REVIEWERS (34D. Ones quoted on Rotten Tomatoes).

Five-letter —“A BEND in the River”, ACORN, BAHIA(6D. Coastal Brazilian state),BUENAVista,CANOE, DOUSE, ELROY, ERINS, EWOKS, FIERY, GYROS, HOYLE, LIE ON, OBAMA, ORATE, PAPAW, PATES, PLANK, POLKA, PUPPY, SORTA, TERRIGibbs,TRAYS, UTTER, VEDIC (11D. Pertaining to Hindu scriptures), YESES.

Short stuff — ACHE, ADS, AIR, ALTE, AMIE, ANNS, APOP, APP and ARR, ATOI, BARB, BEER, BEV and BEY, CVS, DEWS, EELY, EEROSaarinen, EAU, EWE, FOTO, GYMS, IRE and IRS,“The hourIS AThand”,IWOJima,KRISAllen, Lacto-OVOvegetarian, ManO’WAR, RHO, SOWN, SWAB, SYS, TVPG, UPSY, WARM, WED, WWI, “UPSY-daisy!”,YUM.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Some Lawrence Welk music; 6. Fishhook part; 10. Rating for many a sitcom; 14. V. S. Naipaul’s “___ in the River”; 15. Broken-heart symptom; 16. Slippery like a fish; 17. Cracker spreads; 20. French girlfriend; 21. Put on the radio; 22. Brockovich and others; 27. Planted; 33. “American Idol” winner ___ Allen; 37. Furry allies of Luke Skywalker; 38. Org. with a staff of auditors; 39. Blazing; 40. Morning moistures; 44. Yours, in Tours; 52. Somewhat, informally; 53. “Tasty!”; 54. Man ___ (racehorse); 58. ___ Vista (part of Disney); 59. Old one, in Austria; 60. Each, pricewise; 61. The Jetsons’ boy; 62. Molson or Michelob; 64. Thumbs-up responses. — DOWN: 1. Elongated fruit from a tree; 2. 44^th president; 5. Commercials; 7. Oak nut; 8. Letter after pi; 9. Pepsi or O. J.; 10. Country singer Gibbs; 12. Pirate ship feature; 13. School areas with high ceilings; 19. Architect Saarinen; 21. St. ___ (London neighborhood); 24. Has a negative net worth; 25. Put out, as a flame; 26. Rite Aid competitor; 29. Tie the knot; 30. Lamb raiser; 31. Rest atop; 32. Flight board abbr.; 35. Anger; 36. Method: Abbr.; 39. Pic; 41. Conflict for which “Over There” was written: Abbr.; 42. Toasty; 45. Card game rules expert; 46. Speechify; 47. Out-and-out; 48. Greek sandwiches; 49. Litter member; 50. Birchbark, e.g.; 51. Places for dental tools; 52. Deck washer; 56. Mer contents; 57. iPad user’s purchase; 58. Ottoman nabob.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Puzzle by John Farmer / Edited by Will Shortz

A note accompanies this amiable Wednesday crossword: The answer to each starred clue is a compound word or a familiar two-word phrase. A certain four-letter word (spelled out clockwise by the circled squares) can follow the first half and precede the second half of each of these answers, in each case to complete another compound word or familiar two-word phrase.

I didn’t notice the note on the New York Times Across-Lite site until the crossword was completed and then, looking at the four circled letters spelling BOOK, noticed the note to note the note:

CHECK MARKS(17A. *Approval indicators), checkbook and bookmarks

BLACKLIST (21A. *Ban), black book and book list

YEAR END (39A. *December 31), yearbookand bookend

FACE VALUE 55A. *What a “forever” stamp lacks), Facebookand book value

MATCHMAKER (64A. *Union supporter?), matchbook and bookmaker

VANITY FAIR (11D. *Magazine with an annual Hollywood issue), vanity bookand book fair

BLUEJACKET (28D. *Sailor),Blue Book and book jacket

Other — ARAL SEA(10D. Kazakh border lake), DOGEARS (44D. Place savers of a sort),FBI AGENT(27A. “Public Enemies” officer), NECKTIE (4D. Accessory for Annie Hall), POSTCARD (50A. Mail that isn’t opened), TANKARD (47D. Ale vessel).

Mid-size — AAMCO, AGEES, AIRING, ASPECT, BOSNIA, BUSCHGardens,C-NOTE, DOJOS, FARGO, HAZED, HEY HO, MADE DO, NARCO, OUTIES,TALESE.

Short stuff — ABLE, AFAR, AGED, AGUA, ALP, ANKA and ANYA, ARC, ATM, AVEO, AZT, BACH, CAB, CPA, CURL, Il DUCE, EASY, EGOS, ERGO, FINK, HAM, HAWK, HOST, ICKfactor, “INKA Dinka Doo“,KATS, KOBE, KOH-i-noor diamond,LAPS, MIA, NYER, OKIE, ORTS, ORU, OSH and OSHA, OUST, PEEN, RAGU, SEND, SLC, SPEW, SUV, TEAL, TOAD, TRE, U NU, UTAH.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Balkan land; 7. Semi compartment; 10. Former Chevy subcompact; 14. Countenance; 15. Burmese P.M.; 16. Classico rival; 19. Calendario spans; 20. Sharp-eyed sort; 23. Greenish shade; 26. Legion; 31. Repeated cry in the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop”; 34. “Honor Thy Father” author; 35. Shape of the Aleutian Islands, on a map; 37. Miles away; 38. Tulsa sch.; 42. H.I.V. drug; 43. Old; 45. Capital of 58-Down, briefly; 46. Some navels; 48. Places for judokas; 52. H-dos-O?; 54. Striking part; 59. 2007-08 N.B.A. M.V.P., to fans; 67. Manhattanite, e.g., informally; 68. Figure who works with figures, for short; 69. On; 70. Kit ___ (candy bars); 71. City ESE of the 10-Down; 72. Managed. — DOWN: 1. Bond girl Barbara; 2. Watchdog org.; 3. Expel forcibly; 6. $$$ source; 7. Make waves?; 8. 1950s heartthrob Paul; 12. Inflated things?; 13. Boot; 18. Competent; 24. “No sweat!”; 25. Arthur and his family in “Hoop Dreams”; 27. Coen brothers film; 29. Deal breaker?; 30. Number of colors on the Italian flag; 32. Tormented, as pledges; 33. Scraps; 34. Lowly sort; 36. Big bill; 40. Jungfrau, e.g.; 49. Santa fe or Tucson, in brief; 51. Short detail?; 53. Car repair chain; 55. Informer; 56. Author Seton; 57. Sitting spots on Santas; 58. See 45-Across; 60. Steinbeck character; 61. Distort, as the truth; 62. “In which case …”; 65. It often gets cured; 66. Wartime stat.

“Moby-Dick swam swiftly round and round the wrecked crew.”

1902 illustration by I. W. Taber of the final chase of Moby-Dick

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Puzzle by Paul Hunsberger / Edited by Will Shortz

ROUGH / AROUND THE / EDGES(32D. With 21- and 25-Down, lacking refinement … like this puzzle’s grid?), along with ROUGH found within four entries on the edges of the crossword; e.g., DROUGHT (1A. Dust Bowl phenomenon), BOROUGHS (13D. New York City composition),THOROUGH(36D. Leaving no stone unturned) and TROUGHS (70A. Seafloor features) constitutes the main feature of this Thursday crossword.

People in the puzzle — CaptainAHAB, EDUARDO Saverin, JosephEDY, ESAU(Biblical hunter), WalterMATTHAU, NEWT Gingrich, Saint OLAF, CarlORFF, SAM of “Bewitched“, Pope PaoloSESTO, RingoSTARR, TROI (Enterprise counselor),UMA Thurman,UNION REP(Worker‘s advocate).

"…to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee." ~ Moby-Dick, Chapter 135. "The Chase.—Third Day

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 8. Word with oyster or rose; 11. Chatter; 14. “Verrry interesting!”; 15. Facebook co-founder Saverin; 17. Total; 18. Shades, e.g.; 19. Travel option; 20. “Grand, ungodly, godlike man” of fiction; 22. Latin lover’s whisper; 23. It might avoid a collar; 24. “No ___!”; 25. Biblical hunter; 27. Last Pope Paolo, numerically; 29. Goose : gaggle :: ___ : knot; 30. Hotel room option; 31. Be off; 33. Press; 35. Hierarchical level: Abbr.; 36. Charmin and others, for short; 39. Started; 41. Hi-___; 42. Move like a 29-Across; 43. Stipend source; 44. “Bewitched” wife, familiarly; 46. Norway’s patron saint; 48. Skedaddles; 50. Spin-heavy shot; 54. Spin-o-___ (360-degree hockey maneuver; 55. Commercial snack cakes; 57. Unbelievable, say; 58. A satellite may be kept in it; 60. First name in the 2012 Republican primary; 61. Enterprise counselor; 62. Private performances?; 64. Discuss in detail; 66. Pull in the driveway, say; 67. Orchestrate; 68. Suffers from; 69. What cats and waves do. — DOWN: 1. Overshadows; 2. Traditional Irish brew; 3. Radio format; 4. Howl; 5. Econ. Stat; 6. ___ blazes; 7. ___ wonder (Tone Loc or Crowded House, e.g.); 8. Apiarist’s facial display; 9. Big name in ice cream; 10. Offenbach’s “Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour,” e.g.; 11. Like frying vis-à-vis baking; 122. Unwillingness to yield; 16. Every seven days; 28. “Carmina Burana” composer; 34. Cracker topper; 36. Leaving no stone unturned; 37. One is named for the explorer James Ross; 38. Mass junk mailers; 47. Islam, e.g.; 49. “Who cares?”; 51. Unisex wrap; 52. Shed, with “off”; 53. In groups; 56. “Octopus’s Garden” singer; 59. Utility belt item; 63. Actress Thurman; 65. Sign of a hit.

Joshua Tree

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Friday, February 22, 2013

Puzzle by Martin Ashwood-Smith / Edited by Will Shortz

Four 15-letter across entries constitutes the main feature of this Friday crossword:

MARSHALL MCCLUHAN (29A. Coiner of the phrase “global village”)
ORATORIO SOCIETY (38A. Group that might perform 16-Across)
MAJOR LEAGUE GAME(39A. Indians may participate in it)
STARS AND STRIPES (40A. Frequent American flier?)

Other — ACCOUTERING, APRIL FOOL, DISPOSALS, EVANESCING, JOSHUA TREE(15A. Yucca named by Mormon settlers),JUDY GARLAND, LUKE WILSON, OATMEAL CEREAL(9D. Quaker offering),RENE RUSSO, SWEET DEAL, TEN HORSEPOWER, UNLETTERED.

Mid-size — ARRIS, ASTORS, BOLTS, BOXER (49D. Lord of the ring?), CLEAT, CRUET, DONEE, ILLER, General JESSEReno, KeyLARGO, LEEDS, LUIGIS, MAUVE, MT IDA, ORKAN, ORONO, Seiji OZAWA, SEDAN, SHELL.

Short stuff — ANGLee, “How now!A RAT?”, “LookAT MEnow”,AXLE, BBC, CAL, EAT, EES, ERST, EYE, EZRA, FAZE, GENE, HEAP, IMO, ISLA, JOCK, KALE, LAE, LIEN, LOAD, MOMS, MSGS, NYES, ORA, PDT and PUT, PSIS, RAJA, SAUL, SEN and SSN, STET, ZETA.

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Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. B.M.O.C., typically; 5. Aids in keeping up with the daily grind?; 14. Biblical figure believed to be buried near Basra; 16. Handel work featuring David; 17. Poorly educated; 18. Pleasant surprise for a buyer; 20. Cretan peak; 21. Have chops, say; 22. Its purpose is in sight; 23. Papuan port; 25. Phishing string: Abbr.; 26. Lee in Hollywood; 27. One of Steinbeck’s twins; 41. Hill person: Abbr.; 42. Pros in power: Abbr.; 43. Texting qualifier; 46. W. Coast setting, more often than not; 48. Now, in Italy; 49. “Live at the Apollo” airer; 52. Key name; 54. All-day sucker?; 57. He played Casey Kelso on “That ‘70s Show”; 59. Linchpin locale; 60. Fading out; 61. Sixth in a series; 62. “Tin Cup” co-star; 63. Aforetime. — DOWN: 1. General Reno for whom Reno, Nev., is named; 2. 1994 Emmy winner for “Dvořák in Prague”; 3. Oil vessel; 4. Moola; 5. Gifted person?; 6. Creta, e.g.; 7. Beach house?; 8. Apply; 10. Keep in order?; 11. “Mrs.” in a Paul Gallico novel title; 12. City called “Knightsbridge of the North”; 13. Auto suggestion?; 15. “Judgment at Nuremberg” Oscar nominee; 19. Like some outboard motors; 24. Getting in gear; 26. Noted Titanic couple; 28. Nintendo’s ___ Mansion; 29. Delivery people?; 30 “How now! ___?”: Hamlet; 31. Delhi cheese?; 32. It may be on the house; 33. Bridge designer’s concern; 34. E-mail, e.g.: Abbr.; 35. Mountain; 37. Bill ___ Climate Lab (Oakland science exhibit); 43. Cooler in the ‘hood; 44. Violet relative; 45. Like Mork; 47. Puts soft rock on?; 48. Black Bears’ home; 50. They get nuts; 51. Grip improver; 53. Characteristic dictator; 55. Electric flux symbols; 56. Throw for a loop; 58. Cyclones’ sch.

Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats in the 1961 film The Hustler

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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Puzzle by Todd Gross / Edited by Will Shortz

Across —1. Dragging vehicles; 10. Massachusetts governor after John Hancock,SAMUEL ADAMS; 12. One who was very successful with numbered balls,MINNESOTA FATS; 14. Advance man?,LENDER; 15. Some clouds,STRATI; 17. Cerebral canals, ITERS; 18. Crook’s mark,SAP;21. Apostle of Ire.,ST PAT; 22. Plate setting,TRAY; 23. Board game found in Egyptian tombs,SENET; 25. Group led by a Grand Exalted Ruler,ELKS; 26. “The Chronicles of Vladimir TOD” (hit young adult book series about a vampire); 27. Feature of televised debates,SPLIT SCREEN; 29. Spanish demonstrative,ESO; 30. Long and twisty,EEL-LIKE; 31. “The L Word” network, in listings,SHO; 32. Survey militarily, RECONNOITER; 34. Canvas in a wooden frame, of sorts,COT; 35. Yeomen of the Guard officer,EXON; 36. Ready to play, TUNED; 37. Number one, to some, SELF; 38. Old letters,RUNES; 40. “Combats avec TES défenseurs!” (line from “La Marseillaise”); 41. In a way, informally, KINDA; 42. Some Japanese-Americans,SANSEI; 44. Period of slow growth,WINTER; 45. One who is very successful with numbered balls,LOTTERY WINNER; 49. One getting laughs at others’ expense,ROAST MASTER; 50. Exercise leader,P E TEACHER.

Down —1. Stopped flowing, RAN DRY; 2. Exeunt OMNES (stage direction); 3. Violin virtuoso Leopold AUER; 4. French preposition, DES; 5. Street caution, SLO; 6. Part of an equitable trade, figuratively speaking, TAT; 7. Writer LeShan and others,EDAS; 8. Bundles of logs, maybe,RAFTS; 9. Not so dim, SMARTER; 10. Dublin-born singer with a 1990 #1 hit,SINEAD O’CONNOR; 11. Kings’ home,STAPLES CENTER; 12. GQ sort of guy, METROSEXUAL; 13. Part-owner, say,STAKE HOLDER; 14. Mess makers,LITTERERS; 16. “Just a few more miles”,IT’S NOT FAR; 18. Hit show,SELL-OUT; 19. Chemical used in dyes,ANILINE; 20. Dress store section,PETITES; 23. Weary, SPENT; 24. Reproved, in a way,TSKED; 27. Sessions in D.C., say,SEN; 28. Battle of CER (first Allied victory of W.W. I); 33. Like some shopping,ONE STOP; 37. Luster, e.g., SINNER; 39. Gripping parts of gecko footpads,SETAE;41. “Roots” family surname,KINTE; 43. Superlative suffix,IEST; 44. WISH list; 46. Map abbr.,RTE; 47. Soprano YMA Sumac; 48. Mil. Branch disbanded in 1978,WAC.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

02.05.13 — Real LY

02.06.13 — O Sole Mio

02.07.13 — H&R Block

02.08.13 — Hallelujah!

02.09.13 — Blizzard!

02.10.13 — Blizzard Blizzard!

02.10.13 — Phonogram — the Acrostic

02.11.13 — CAB

02.12.13 — CAR

02.13.13 — GED

02.14.13 — Open Door

02.15.13 — Snow Angel

02.16.13 — A Little Bird

02.17.13 — Mark My Words

02.18.13 — Control

02.19.13 — Questions

02.20.13 — BOOK

02.21.13 — ROUGH

02.22.13 — The Friday Crossword

02.23.13 — Numbered Balls