09.29.07 -- Secrets

MATAHARI (15A She was executed in 1917)

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Saturday, September 29, 2007

Puzzle by Robert H. Wolfe, edited by Will Shortz

Three long entries, THATSRIDICULOUS (17A "Nonsense!"); SENSITIVENATURE (36A Delicacy); and HEYDONTLOOKATME (55A "I'm not volunteering!") set a tone for this SASSY (14D Flip) and evasively-clued Saturday puzzle. ASSOONAS (1A When) I uncovered MATAHARI (15A She was executed in 1917) occupying the upper left of the puzzle with a prone SALMINEO (62A "Tonka" star, 1958) in the lower left under DRILLERS (60A Boring people) and in dead center, DIVAS (29D 45-Down performers), flashing a "V" as the central letter of this crossword, I was INADILEMMA (40A Stuck with no way out), and WARNED (61A On notice) that my ROLE (50A Lead, e.g.) as solver may be labeled RIP (52A Engraved message?: Abbr.) -- but to be overwhelmed?, why PSHAW (44D 17-Across, quaintly)!

BLEEPS (9A Slip covers?) -- I wrote for an hour without saving and lost it all!

Across -- 16 100 centesimal; 19 Pentax Spotmatic, e.g., in brief; 20 Boy in the comic strip “Rose is Rose”; 21 Parents; 22 Parts of many jam sessions; 25 Minute; 27 African evergreen shrub; 29 Vlasic varieties; 33. Like VCRs in the 1970s; 39 One-striper: Abbr.; 40 Stuck with no way out; 41 Kitchen pieces; 43 Animal visitor to Paris in a classic children’s book; 44 Cornmeal concoction; 47 One that takes a picture?; 49 Crosses; 50 Lead, e.g.; 52 Engraved message?: Abbr.; 59 Ring of anatomy; 61 On notice. Down -- Withdrawal figs.; 2 Joke writer for many Kennedy campaign speeches; 3 Astrological set; 4 Some husk contents; 5 Understanding responses; 6 Pusher; 7 Botanical appendages; 8 Fries, say; 9 A telly may get it; 10 Old Olympics award; 11 Scarlett O’Hara’s mother and others; 12 W.W. II vessel; 13 Cascades; 18 Comment before turning in; 23 Director of the Associated Press, 1900-35; 24 Scale succession; 26 Nicholas Gage title character; 27 More; 28 Tout’s opposite; 29 45-Down performers; 31 How some hats are worn; 32 Drawing, e.g.; 33 Start of some countdowns; 34 “Piece of My Heart” singer Franklin; 35 Result of regular use; 37 “Sin City” actress, 2005; 38 Stagecoach puller; 41 Body band; 42 Flat part; 44 27-Across, quaintly; 45 See 29-Down; 46 Parfait part; 47 It’s a big part of life; 48 Do some tune-up work on; 51 Aurora producer; 53 2002 Literature Nobelist Kertesz; 54 Capital of Colombia; 56 Land of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”’; 57 Dutch traveler’s choice; 58 Figure in the Sunni/Shia split.

IMTIRED (18D Comment before turning in) -- Goodnight!

The New York Times Crossword Puzzle solution above is by the author of this blog and does not guarantee accuracy. If you find errors or omissions, you are more than welcome to make note of same in the Comments section of this post -- any corrections found necessary will be executed promptly upon verification.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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