12.14.09 -- Tempus Fugit!




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Monday, December 14, 2009

Puzzle by Tim Darling, edited by Will Shortz

Inference of the four United States mainland time zones constitutes the interrelated group of this Monday crossword -- EASTERN MEDICINE (17A. Acupuncture, e.g.), CENTRAL HEATER (24A. Furnace, e.g.), MOUNTAIN BIKER (40A. Rough-terrain cyclist), PACIFIC ISLANDER (53A. Samoan or Fijian). What time is it? HERE.

Eight-letter answers include CREDENZA (36D. Sideboard), INTEREST (4D. Bank accrual), ROADSIDE (34D. Where a hot dog stand may stand) and SODA SHOP (9D Popular teen hangout 50+ years ago), followed by two of seven letters -- SNEEZES (20A. Goes “A-a-a-choo!”) and SPREADS (49A. Two-page ads).


Six -- AMUSES (21A. Tickles the fancy, AT REST (5D. Motionless), BESSIE (42D. Nickname for Elizabeth), IN PLAY (43D. Live, as a football), LACUNA (10D. Gap in a manuscript), NARITA (41D. Airport near Tokyo), SCARFS (46A. Bolts down), TENSER (6D. More uptight).

Five -- AKIRA (39D. Director Kurosawa), 39A. “AREN’T you glad?”, 25A. ASTON Martin (James Bond car), ATHOS (5A. Musketeer with Porthos and Aramis), CORFU (24D. Greek port where Prince Philip was born), 57A. Andrea DORIA, ill-fated ship), EL REY (60A. What to call Spain’s Juan Carlos), E-ZINE (18D. Web mag), I’M SET (19D. “No more for me”), RETOP (34A. Surface again, as a driveway), STIFF (38D. Not flexible, as muscles), TEMPO (15A. Musical beat), TILER (26D. Bathroom floor installer), 29A. “WHOSE side are you on anyway?”.

Short stuff -- A CAN and A DOG, ADES and AIDE, ALF, AGTS, ALPO, AMBI, ARID, ASSN, AWES, BASE, CARE, CLAN, COL, DELT, ELIE, ENID, ERAT, EVAN, HALO, HART, HMM, IRIS, IRR, IVE, LISA, MEAN and WEAN, OPE, RENT, RISE, SINE, SOLO, SPEX, SPOT, SRAS, WHAM, XENA, ZOLA.


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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Prefix with dextrous; 10. Bart Simpson’s brainy sister; 22. Go up; 23. The “A” in P.T.A.: Abbr.; 31. Good name for a Dalmatian; 32. “___ about had it up to here!”; 33. Male deer; 36. Extended family; 37. 1980s sitcom with an extraterrestrial; 38. One-person performance; 44. Helper; 45. Oklahoma city; 56. Quod ___ demonstrandum; 58. Writer Emile; 59. TV’s warrior princess; 61. 15-percenters: Abbr. Down: 1. Fills with wonder; 2. Like taking candy from a baby?; 3. First, second or third, ona diamond; 7. “Well, let me think …”; 8. Unlock, to a bard; 11. Pupil surrounder; 12. Trig function; 13. Fruit beverages; 23. Mighty Dog competitor; 27. Indiana senator Bayh; 28. Payment in Monopoly; 29. “Kapow!”; 30. Circle of angels?; 35. “Night” author Wiesel; 46. X-ray ___ (novelty item); 47. Have concern; 48. Open up ___ of worms; 50. Work like ___; 51. Shoulder muscle, briefly; 52. Mmes., in Madrid; 54. Rank above maj.; 55. Abbr. on a clothing sale item.



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