01.30.11 — The Year of the Rabbit

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012.

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Sunday, January 30, 2011

CIRCLE OF LIFE, Puzzle by Kevin G. Der and Jessica A. Hui, edited by Will Shortz

CHINESE ZODIAC (41D. Collection of animals featured in this puzzle), TWELVE-YEAR CYCLE (77A. What the 41-Down has), along with twelve squares arranged in a circle containing the names of animals representing the Chinese zodiac, e.g., monkey, rooster, dog, pig, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse and ram, constitutes the main feature of this clever and timely Sunday crossword.  However, the puzzle is oversized and contains more than a fair share of fragmentation, abbreviations, partials and general short stuff.  Oh well... happy New Year!

Across — 1. Rum, vodka and orange juice drink, BRASS [MONKEY]; 7. “Little” barnyard bird with an alliterative name in a classic Willie Dixon blues song, RED [ROOSTER]; 11. “Let me think …”, HMM; 14. Costume party accessory, WIG; 127. Pope after Marinus I, ADRIAN III; 20. Trying, VEXATIOUS; 22. Turner of records, IKE; 23. Felt like forever, DRAGGED ON; 24. Interludes, ENTR’ ACTES; 25. Cultural grp., NEA; 26. Viewable, to a camera operator, INF[RAM]E; 27. Author Marsh, NGAIO; 29. EarthLink and others, ISPS; 30. Result of turning the corner?, [DOG] EAR; 31. Became annoyed, GOT SORE; 34. New England’s Cape ANN; 35. Roman 1,150, MCL; 37. Detached, ALOOF; 39. Public person?, NOTARY; 41. Pillow talk?, COOS; 42. Cage in Hollywood, NICOLAS; 45 Fellowship foes, ORCS; 49. So-called “Heart of Texas”, WACO; 50. Eschew, SHUN; 51. “See you then!”, IT’S A DATE; 52. Famous fiddler, NERO; 53. Words to a traitor, ET TU; 54. Steering system parts, TIE RODS; 56. “ESTA bien” (Spanish for “It’s good”); 57. Bit of a muscle car’s muscle, [HORSE]POWER; 59. INJUN Joe, “Tom Sawyer” character; 61. Do-do connector, AS I; 62. Looney Tunes character with a snout, PORKY [PIG]; 64. Fashionista’s concern, BRAND; 65. Abide, ENDURE; 66. Surprise visitors, DROP-INS; 68. British isle, AIT; 69. Suffix with torrent, IAL; 71. Driller’s letters, DDS; 72. Poker declaration, I CALL; 73. Pound sound, GRR; 767. Top-rated show of 2002-05, CSI; 77. What the 41-Down has, TWELVE-YEAR CYCLE; 82. Pooh’s young pal, ROO; 83. Mauna KEA; 84. Land of Ephesians, IONIA; 85. When doubled, first name in old Hollywood, ZSA; 86. Spanish “that”, ESA; 87. ABO system (way of classifying blood); 88. Most divine, HOLIEST; 90. Rattletrap, OLD CAR; 93. Cobra product, VENOM; 95. Cobra products [SNAKE] SKINS; 98. Ariz. Neighbor, NEV; 99. Swingers in a saloon, DOORS; 100. Person who likes the blues?, DEMOC[RAT]; 101. Mottled, PIED; 102. Soldier’s meal container, MESS TIN; 104. Very, OH SO; 106. Palliative plant, ALOE; 107. Winter Olympics performance since 1976, ICE DANCE; 110. Den HAAG, Nederland; 111. Ubangi tributary, UELE; 112. Phalanx’s weaknesses, GAPS; 113. Thinned out, TAPERED; 114. Driller’ s letters, ROTC; 115. Facing, with “from”, ACROSS; 117. Halved, IN TWO; 118. Be shy, OWE; 119. “What?!”, HUH; 120. Serves, WAITS ON; 125. King Arthur’s family name, PEN[DRAGON]; 127. Make out, in York, SNOG; 129. Old saw, MAXIM; 131. With craft F[OX]ILY; 132. Getup, RIG; 133. Italian liqueurs, AMARETTOS; 136. Strip in a darkroom, NEGATIVES; 139. “The Lovely Bones” composer, 2009, ENO; 140. Topic at an owners/players meeting, SALARY CAP; 141. Heyday, GOLDEN AGE; 142. Source of enlightenment, ZEN; 143. Terminal, END; 144. 1960 Updike novel [RABBIT] RUN; 145. Four-time Masters winner, [TIGER] WOODS.

Down — 1. Two-letter combinations, BIG[RAM]S; 2. Continue, as an uncontrolled fire, RAGE ON; 3. Most common draw in Scrabble, AN A; 4. Comic Caesar, SID; 5. Prior in “The Da Vinci Code”, SION; 6. Tomfoolery, [MONKEY]ING AROUND; 7. City NNE of Tahoe, RENO; 8. Bus. Line, EXT; 9. Patriotic women’s org., DAR; 10. Wakes thrown up behind speedboats, [ROOSTER] TAILS; 11. Revealing 1970s wear, HOTPANTS; 12. Cereal mixes, MUESLIS; 13. Ed.’s work pile, MSS; 14. Portable red or white holder, WINE FLASK; 15. Low-priced furniture source, IKEA; 16. Tent or sleeping bag, e.g., GEAR; 17. Take A DIG at (insult); 18. 1962 action film set in Jamaica, DR NO; 19. Finnish transport?, RAFT; 20. Mark in marble, VEIN; 21. Suffix with rhythm, ICS; 28. Whichever, ANY; 30. Samaritans, [DOG]OODERS; 32. Galley figure, ROWER; 33. State in French, ETAT; 35. Peeved pout, MOUE; 36. Hotelier Hilton, CONRAD; 38. South American tuber, OCA; 40. Be part of, as a film, ACT IN; 41. Collection of animals featured in this puzzle, CHINESE ZODIAC; 43. Lawyer: Abbr., ATTY; 44. Fat underwater creature, SEA[PIG]; 45. Like a Mountie, ON [HORSE]BACK; 46. Musical echo, REPRISE; 47. Dalmatian’s home, CROATIA; 48. Like wild oats, SOWN; 51. Dumbness, IDIOCY; 55. Foppish courtier in “Hamlet”, OSRIC; 58. It may be limited or late, EDITION; 60. Revelation comes after it, JUDE; 62. Doctor’s orders, PILLS; 63. Away for a while, ON LEAVE; 65. 1985 John Malkovich drama, ELENI; 67. Reggie Miller, for one, PACER; 70. People leaving the company?, AWOLS; 73. Breakfast in a bar, GRANOLA; 74. High-tech officer in film, ROBOCOP; 75. Hotel figures, ROOM [RAT]ES; 78. Mortgage holder, e.g., LIENEE; 79. Florist’s supply, VASES; 80. Comparable in reach, AS LONG; 81. “Hair” co-writer James RADO; 88. See 91-Down, HIDDEN [DRAGON]; 89. Pilot program?, TV SHOW; 91. With 88-Down, 2000 Ang Lee film, CROUCHING [TIGER]; 92. One of the tribes of Israel, ASHER; 94. Online publication, for short, E-MAG; 95. Place where a person may be bitten, [SNAKE]PIT; 96. Director Vittorio De SICA; 97. Sticking with it, KEEPING ON; 100. DOES A number on (mentally abuses),; 102. Noted Ronald MCDONALD; 103. London tourist stop, TATE; 105. Dull, SLOW; 108. Works at a museum, ART; 109. Blitzer, e.g., NEWSMAN; 114. Much-wanted toon in Toontown, ROGER [RABBIT]; 115. Dumas’s “La Dame AUX Camelias”; 118. Combed (through), SIFTED; 119. Lock plate, HASP; 121. Cobra products, T[OX]INS; 122. Hindu deity, SIVA; 123. Designer Cassini, OLEG; 124.Nasdaq alternative, NYSE; 125. W. or J.F.K., PREZ; 128. A, to Zimmermann, EINE; 128. 60 minuti, ORA; 129. Grouse, MOAN; 130. MEOW Mix; 133. Enzyme ending, ASE; 134. Norse war god, TYR; 135. The Horned Frogs, for short, TCU; 137. Mop & GLO; 138. Something about nothing?, ADO.

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

01.29.11 — The Saturday Crossword

 

Vallisneria is a genus of freshwater aquatic plant,

commonly called eelgrass, tape grass or vallis.

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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Puzzle by Ned White, edited by Will Shortz

Nothing much to say about this Saturday crossword, well... the usual — the solving experience probably depends upon one’s interpretation of some fairly vague clues and the knowledge (or the lack) of some very insignificant results.

Across — 1. Eric SCHMIDT, Google C.E.O. beginning in 2001; 8. Period between Shaban and Shawwal, RAMADAN; 15. “It doesn’t matter … anyone’s fine”, WHOEVER; 16. Home of Nascar’s longest oval, ALABAMA; 17. It may be free or attached, EAR LOBE; 18. Title for Columbus, in the Indies, VICEROY; 19. Start of some picture books, A IS; 20. They can make people break up, RIB TICKLERS; 22. More than un peu, TRES; 24. Rags, TEASES; 25. Firth class?, SCOTS; 27. Soapmaking compound, chemically, KOH; 28. Make clean … or dirty, DUST; 32. Expect that one will, HOPE TO; 34. Something handed down, SENTENCE; 37. Turn into a chestnut, OVERUSE; 39. Keeps cruising, SAILS ON; 40. Present day figure in Paris?, PÈRE NOEL; 42. Cheap cigar, in slang, EL ROPO; 43. They have maridos: Abbr., SRAS; 44. Glass part, LIP; 46. One kneeling at work, TILER; 47. More than ruffles, ANGERS; 50. Sheep genus, OVIS; 51. A runner who loses may still win it, POPULAR VOTE; 56. With 36-Down, cocked, AT A; 57. Works with steam?, EROTICA; 58. Smallish ballpark, in slang, BANDBOX; 60. Clues from 7-Down, ANSWERS; 61. Lazuline, SKY BLUE; 62. Camphor and such, KETONES; 63. Aids in preparing spots?, TEA SETS.

Down — 1. Much of New York’s Garment District, once, SWEATSHOPS; 2. Upscale wedding reception amenity, CHAIR COVER; 3. Wild West show?, HORSE OPERA; 4. TV diner employer of 9-Down, MEL; 5. English poet-composer Gurney, IVOR; 6. Checkout choice, DEBIT; 7. TV host with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, TREBEK; 8. Sends, RAVISHES; 9. See 4-Down, ALICE; 10. Some big trucks, MACKS; 11. He had righteous blood, per Matthew 23:35, ABEL; 12. Say “You can’t do that!” to, say, DARE; 13. The love of Juan’s life?, AMOR; 14. Passage blockers, NAYS; 21. County with the resort town Red River, TAOS; 23. Volume measures, STERES; 26. Floor, STUN; 28. Texas city near the Coahulla border, DEL RIO; 29. Like the equation “x = x + 1”, UNSOLVABLE; 30. Case the joint, SCOPE IT OUT; 31. Staples of jazz music, TENOR SAXES; 33. Big creature in un zoológico, OSO; 35. Aye’s counterpart, NAE; 36. See 56-Across, TILT; 38. Freshwater plant also called wild celery, EEL GRASS; 41. Actor Schreiber, LIEV; 45. Emmy-winning reality show host of 2008, ‘09 and ‘10, PROBST; 47. Not from around here, ALIEN; 48. Inlay option, NACRE; 49. Driven supporter, STAKE; 51. Trough’s opposite, PEAK; 52. D-Day invasion river, ORNE; 53. A Webmaster may approve it, POST; 54. Aircraft in 1960 headlines, U-TWO; 55. Mononymous four-time Grammy winner, ENYA; 59. Volume measures: Abbr., DBS.

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.