04.03.10 — Tabula Rasa

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins and Joe Krozel, edited by Will Shortz

Holoalphabetic, this Saturday crossword is a first-look-blank-slate puzzle, a hit-or-miss affair with sly clues, more than a few obscure answers and vise versa.

Across: 1. Apparently floored, SLACK-JAWED; 11. Like some fraternities nowadays CO-ED; 15. Baby’s mind, e.g., TABULA RASA; 16. It spins its wheels, AXLE; 17. When “you’re gonna want me for your girl,” in a 1963 hit, ONE FINE DAY; 18. Longtime “The Price is Right” model DIAN Parkinson; 19. Chief Powhatan’s son-in-law, ROLFE; 20. Like some Ger. Nouns, NEUT; 21. Clean rags?, EDIT; 22. Much like, ALA; 23. Pleased, GLAD; 26. Ziti alternative, ROTINI; 27. Bat mitzvah, e.g., GIRL; 29. Nut’s offspring, OSIRIS; 31. Kind of state in the East, ZEN; 32. Transfuses, ENDUES; 34. Neighbors of Indians, NEPALESE; 36. “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” Oscar nominee, TATI; 38. Plaza-to-plaza stretch: Abbr., TPKE; 39. Putting to rest, QUIETING; 43. Response to “Are you awake?”; 47. Freud’s “Totem UND Tabu”; 48. Attempt to bypass opposition, END-RUN; 50. Sun-baked, SERE; 51. Many 31-Across practitioners, ASIANS; 53. Bit of rootless flora, ALGA; 55. Org. in which people get belted, WBA; 56. Any member of the Safavid dynasty, SHAH; 57. Shut up, PENT; 59. Christian apologist who wrote “The Loves”, LEWIS; 61. Last name o twin gymnasts in the 2004 Olympics, HAMM; 62. Crush, ANNIHILATE; 64. 1957 Tony winner Adams, EDIE; 65. It might have red herrings, CRIME NOVEL; 66. What’s often pounded out DENT; 67. Pieces of surprising news, EYE-OPENERS.

Down: 1. An unused item may be placed in it, STORAGE: 2. Ointment base, LANOLIN; 3. “Sic et Non” theologian, ABELARD; 4. Copper bracelet?, CUFF; 5. Star light?, KLIEG; 6. Half of a popular 1960s singing duo, JAN; 7. Places where stands have been made, ARENAS; 8. Attached energetically, WADED IN; 9. The Bible’s “cunning hunter”, ESAU; 10. Vacationing very briefly, DAY-TRIPPING; 11. General starting point?, CADET; 12. Go from aluminum to alumina, say, OXIDIZE; 13. Bistro seen in “Manhattan”, ELAINE’S; 14. It’s under a canine’s coat, DENTINE; 24. Show featuring the scheming Dr. Zachary Smith, LOST IN SPACE; 26. Japanese for “large hill”, OSAKA; 28. One with a long neck and a rounded body, LUTE; 30. Out of practice?: Abbr., RET; 33. Like items that have been put away, EATEN; 35. NASA’s Falcon and Intrepid, LEMS; 37. Poll abbr., IND; 39. Put to rest, QUASHED; 40. Expose to light, UNSHADE; 41. “Raid on Entebbe” role, IDI AMIN; 42. Family member, GRANNIE; 44. Avant-garde, NEW WAVE; 45. NASA vehicle, ORBITER; 46. Sly sorts, WEASELS; 49. Last, to Luigi, ULTIMO; 52. Record producer Ertegun in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, AHMET; 54. Coat cut, A-LINE; 58. Eliza’s mentor, to Eliza, ‘ENRY; 60. Piedmont university, ELON; 63. Tuned in, HEP.

That’s that!

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Puzzle available on the internet at



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04.02.10 — OMEI?! Oh My!

Mount Emei (Chinese: 峨嵋山), literally towering Eyebrow Mountain) is a mountain in Sichuan province of Western China. Mount Emei is often written as 峨眉山 and occasionally 峩嵋山 or 峩眉山 but all three are translated as Mount Emei or Mount Emeishan

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Friday, April 2, 2010

Puzzle by Alan Olschwang, edited by Will Shortz

OMEI (21A. Sacred Buddhist mountain) is a desperate bit of fill in this disparate Friday crossword, so let’s explore the oddest entry of the crossword that is strangely bland with a quotation from a travel brochure about Mount Emei — Emei?... that’s right, we’ve even been slapped with an obscure spelling.

Mt. Emei in Sichuan Province in Southwest China has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its incredible natural beauty and historical Buddhist sites. The mountain is characterized by lofty ancient trees, spectacular waterfalls, pristine brooks and numerous Buddhist temples and is blessed with a temperate climate, making it a very popular summer destination. A full days hike to the summit is a truly unforgettable experience but for those less active there are mini buses and cable cars.

Mt. Emei is a sacred Buddhist haven and one of the four most divine Buddhism Mountains in China. There are 30 Buddhist temples on the mountain and every morning streams of Buddhism pilgrims armed with joss sticks conquer the steep stairs of the mountain and swarm into the temples which include; Baoguo at the foot of the Mountain, Wanian temple (one of the largest on the mountain) and Qingyin Pavilion.

At the Gold Summit which is 3,077 meters above sea level, the views are spectacular and there is a spectacular four-side ten-direction golden statue of Puxian, which is the highest golden Buddha in the world and the crowning glory of the mountain. For Wikipedia, HERE.

So, you see MENTAL TELEPATHY and REGULAR CUSTOMER (17A. Special communication, 55A. One who keeps giving you the business) are relevant. The other long entries of this Friday crossword are MOVES INTO (24A. Starts occupying), ROPE-A-DOPE (47A. Rumble in the Jungle strategy), TEN GALLON (31D. Kind of hat) and U S POSTAGE (10D. It increased to 4 cents per oz. in 1958) at nine letters each.

Eight letters — ADAM’S ALE (15A. Teetotaler’s order), AERO PERU (35D. 1970s-’90s international carrier), ATTEND TO (12D. Serve), COQ AU VIN (1A. Certain fricassee), NO HITTER (13D. Diamond dream), RAMPAGED (36D. Went wild), SQUEEZED (61A. In a tight spot financially) and TEST RIDE (59A. Spin out on wheels?).

Seven — AVENUE Q (40D. 2004 Best Musical Tony winner), ECARTES (32A. King-high games), IL TEMPO (7D. Big Italian daily), NEATNIK (38A. One picking up a lot).

Six — ACCEDE (46D. Bow), AUDENS (60A. “Funeral Blues” poet and family), CREDOS (58A. Philosophies), EPACTS (43D. Periods added to harmonize the lunar and solar calendars), EXCISE (25D. Cut out), GARNET (34A. Deep red), GENEVE (42A. Where la Croix-Rouge is), HUMANS (9A. Around-the-world race); IGNORE (37A. Not even consider), IS IT OK (16A. “Would you mind …?”), LES MIZ (45D. 1987 Best Musical Tony winner, informally), NEESON (8D. Star of the 1998 film version of 45-Down), ODESSA (2D. 1905 revolt setting), QANTAS (3D. Virgin Blue rival), UNTIED (28D. Loose) and UP NEXT (28A. On deck).

Five — BEECH, BETTE, CAMEO, ELUDE, GEESE (20A. They come to a point while flying), GLINT, HIRED, KNORR, LEVEE, MIAMI, OSAGE and USAGE, RANEE, RNASE (33D. Biochemical enzyme, briefly).

Short stuff — AMT, ARM, ASEA, ASL and ASS, DTS, ESSU, EST, GNAR, HIE, ITNO, ORE, OSSE, PALL, RCA, SCI, SKY, SLA, VALE (6D. Low point).

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Puzzle available on the internet at



THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.



If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 19. It’s not exact: Abbr.; 21. Sacred Buddhist mountain), 22. Dakota relative; 27. Special communication syst.; 9. Cause of some shaking, for short; 30. “Pay ___ mind”; 40. Like pirates; 49. Cherry alternative; 51. Become wearisome; 52. Important Indian; 54. It may be exact: Abbr. DOWN: 1. Small part; 4. Check information: Abbr.; 5. Gas bill information; 9. Get a move on; 11. Home to Seaquarium and MetroZoo; 14. Top of the world?; 18. Spillover stopper; 23. Flash; 26. Bone: Prefix; 34. Growl; 39. Campbell’s competitor; 48. Shake; 49. Greene who wrote “Summer of My German Soldier”; 50. Like some help; 53. “Mi casa ___ casa”; 55. MP3 player maker; 56. One that may balk; 57. Stuff in a bank.