07.20.09 -- Terra Firma

Glowing Tobacco Plant, Image taken by Keith Wood for Science Magazine
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Monday,
July 20, 2009 -- Apollo 11 Anniversary
Puzzle by Pancho Harrison, edited by Will Shortz
PLANT MANAGERS (57A. Factory supervisors … or a hint to the starts of 20-, 36- and 42-Across), ROOT OF ALL EVIL (20A. What the love of money is, they say), STEM THE TIDE (36A. Stop a prevailing trend), LEAF THROUGH (42A. Quickly turn the pages of) are the interrelated entries of this Monday crossword -- and one could perhaps manage to include PRUNE (23A. Lop off, as branches) and STREW (53D. Spread, as seed).
Although today is the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, producing the quotation, “That’s one small step for man, a giant leap for mankind” nothing in this crossword relates to that occasion (well, maybe the clue for 33D); however, there are a few other remarks in the puzzle -- 14A. “Put a sock IN IT!”; 28A. “So long!“, SEE YA; 40A. “I’ll take that as A NO”; 54A. “Oh, bushwa!”, MY EYE; 71A. “Put a tiger in your tank” brand, ESSO; 30D. “I AM NOT amused!” and 43D.
Ellington’s “Take THE A Train”, but that's not going to the moon!
People -- AMY (13D. “The Joy Luck Club” writer Tan); BLAIR (18A. Former British P.M. Tony); 10D. DESI (10D. Arnaz of “I Love Lucy”); ELIOT (15A. Writer T.S. or George), ERICA (64A. “Fear of Flying writer Jong); ERIES (56D. Great Lakes Indians); 48A.
Mexican revolutionary PANCHO Villa (not to be confused with Pancho Harrison); RALPH (33D. Alice’s mate on “The Honeymooners"); SWEET (70A. Like Georgia Brown of song); 1A. Uncle TOM’S Cabin”.
Sports -- AFC (39D. Steeler’s grp.), A-TEAM (34D. First string),
CLOSER (31A. Ninth-inning pitcher), GYMNAST (45D. One who mounts and dismounts a horse), HOYA (46D. Georgetown athlete), OTT (32D. Hall-of-Famer Mel), STRETCH (9D. Seventh-inning ritual) and TIER (1D. It may hang out in a sports stadium).
Other -- CREDO (27D. Belief);
EXPLOSIVE (11D. Nitroglycerin or dynamite), HORNETS (44D. Big stingers), MINOR (3D. 17-year-old, legally); NEGATE (50D. Nullify); ON TOP (2D. First in the rankings); 26D. RED AS a beet; STATUS (4D. Condition of affairs); TERMS (67A. Contract conditions); TOILS (8D. Works long and hard); TRANSPOSE (35D. Make lemons into melons, e.g.?); TRY ON (49A. Check the fit of, as a dress); WARTS (5A. Witches’ faces have them) and WEB FEET (5D. Duck features); YESES (55D. Go-aheads).
Short stuff -- ACME, ALLA, ASIA, ATRA, DEJA, EASE, ERS, ESO and ESSO, ETNA, EXAM, HAR, HMS, JAR, LEEK, MIRE, ONES, ORC, RAT, RIAL, SADO, SET, SHOE, SPRY, STA, TEED, TOUR and TREK, TVAD, VALE, YEAR.
As for the
MOON…
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The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
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Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
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Remaining clues -- Across: 16. Midterm, e.g.; 17. Sicilian spewer; 19. Surprisingly lively for one’s age; 24. RR depot; 25. “The Lord of the Rings” enemy; 33. Squealer; 38. Gillette razor; 41. 30-second spot, e.g.; 47. That: Sp.; 51. “___ Pinafore”; 52. Hospital trauma ctrs.; 62. Old woman’s home in a nursery rhyme; 65. Marco Polo crossed it; 66. Simplicity; 68. Sore, with “off”; 69. Arduous journey. Down: 6. ___ breve (2/2 time in music); 7. Iranian money; 12. Cookie holder; 21. George Washingtons; 22. Low-lying area; 29. Vintage designation; 37. Go from gig to gig; 58. Cousin of an onion; 59. Bog; 60. Summit; 61. Lead-in to masochism; 62. Filming site; 63. Part of 33-Down’s laugh.

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